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COLOURED ILLUSTRATIONS 

OP THE 






EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 


VOL I. 




“ Some to the holly hedge 
Nestling repair, and to the thicket some : 

Some to the rude protection of the thorn 
Commit their feeble offspring : the cleft tree 
Offers its kind concealment to a few, 

Their food its insects and its moss their nests. 
Others apart, far in the grassy dale 
Or rough’ning waste, their humble texture weave, 
But most in woodland solitudes delight; 

In unfrequented glooms or shaggy banks 
Steep and divided by a babbling brook.” 


COLOURED ILLUSTRATIONS 


OF THE 


EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS, 

WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF 


THEIR NESTS AND NIDIFICATION. 


WILLIAM 



THIRD EDITION. 

TN TWO VOLUMES. 
VOL. I. 


LONDON: 

JOHN VAN VOORST, PATERNOSTER ROW. 


M.DCCC.LVI. 




/<> 



LONDON: 

Printed by H. W. Hutchings, 63, Snow Hill. 


INTRODUCTION. 


An anxious wish to add a portion, however humble, towards 
the illustration of those glorious works from which I have 
myself derived such abundant pleasure, together with a desire 
to impart to others a portion of such pleasure, led to the pro¬ 
duction of the present work; and however deficient in its ac¬ 
complishment, should it be the means of turning the attention 
of any to the pursuit of Natural History, my object will have 
been fully gained, and I shall have the happiness of knowing, 
that I have been partly the means of adding many a bright 
hour to their lives ; feeling, as I do, firmly convinced, that 
next to those pleasures to be derived from the discharge of 
more important duties, there is no pursuit so calculated to im¬ 
part the purest sensations of delight, and at the same time to 
elevate the mind; there is not a pursuit which diffuses the 
same serenity over the feelings, which soothes us in the hour 
of trouble, and which, when other pleasures flit away, continues 
to afford such undiminished enjoyment to the last. For my 
own part, that taste for Natural History which I have enjoyed 
from the earliest recollection, and which I regard as one of the 
choicest gifts of Providence, has proved to me an inestimable 
blessing. To its influence I owe all the brighter hours of my 
life ; whether, in the full enjoyment of health and happiness, I 
have trod the green fields, in the joyous spring, delighted with 
the early flowers and the first song of the Sky Lark ; or have 
wandered as a school-boy through the woods, “to pull the 
flower so gayor in the autumn of the year have traversed 
the heathery mountains, when purpled o’er with blossoms, to 
watch the flight of the moor bird, and listen to the busy hum 



VI 


INTRODUCTION. 


of a thousand bees; that taste has brightened every beautiful 
object in nature, and added a zest to every pleasure. 

It is with a satisfaction unalloyed by any unpleasant feel¬ 
ings, that the lover of nature looks back upon and retraces in 
his memory the many happy hours which he has spent in the 
pursuit of his favourite object. Never shall I forget the first 
dawning of a love for nature upon my mind, as its various 
beautiful objects came crowding upon my notice—“wonders 
yet to me nor that strange feeling of delight which I have 
experienced from the capture of some long-chased butterfly, or 
the discovery of the nest of some then unknown bird. 

However unimportant in itself the branch of Natural His¬ 
tory which I have attempted to elucidate, the beautiful and 
varied objects which compose it, are amongst the first to excite 
the imagination, and call forth in boyhood those feelings, that 
love for nature, which are inherent in us all; and however the 
cares or the pleasures of after life may have erased those earlier 
feelings, there are few who have not one day derived pleasur¬ 
able emotions from their contemplation, and who do not re¬ 
member those joyous times when, at the first breaking loose 
from school, they have hastened to the wood and the hedge¬ 
row, in search of their painted prize. 

Few can have failed to notice that wonderful and all-absorb¬ 
ing feeling of anxiety, that utter disregard of self, which, during 
the breeding season, produces so remarkable a change in the 
nature of many of our birds : converting that wariness for 
which they are at other times remarkable, into the most heed¬ 
less disregard of danger. 

Numerous anecdotes are related of the devotedness of the 
Partridge, and other species of birds, in the protection of their 
young. 

The Misletoe Thrush, usually so shy, seeks the immediate 
neighbourhood of our houses during the season of incubation, 
rears its young ones within sight of our windows, and spreads 
terror amongst the rest of the feathered race by its pugnacious 
persecution of all intruders. 


INTRODUCTION. 


• • 
Vll 


I have elsewhere noticed the assiduity with which the Eider 
Duck covers its eggs. 

Many of the smaller birds will allow themselves to be taken 
in the hand, rather than leave their nests. Some have been 
even known, upon having their young ones taken from them, 
to follow them into captivity. 

The obstinate perseverance with which the Blue Titmouse 
continues to rebuild its nest, although it has been repeatedly 
destroyed, is very remarkable; and still more so the pertina¬ 
city with which it continues to sit its eggs, in defiance of all 
intrusion; and to retain possession of the hole in which they 
were placed, sometimes for days after they have been taken 
from it. 

Notwithstanding the numerous accounts we hear of the 
fecundity of some of our smaller birds, I am much inclined to 
think that their powers of incubation have been overrated, 
and that the usual number of eggs only, which it is allotted 
them to lay, are sufficiently developed to be brought to ma¬ 
turity at one time. Those birds, however, which under ordi¬ 
nary circumstances would only breed once a year, have never¬ 
theless, if deprived of their eggs, the power of producing, a 
short time afterwards, a second and even a third set; but 
usually diminished in their numbers, as well as in their size. 

That the colouring of birds’ eggs is an animal matter, and 
dependent upon the health of the bird, there can be little 
doubt. The day previous to the eggs being produced, and after 
the shell has become hard, they are, in those birds which I 
have examined, pure white; a large proportion of the colour 
is also easily rubbed off, for some time after they have been 
laid. Thus we find in their eggs the same want of colour, 
which is also occasionally observable in the feathers of white 
varieties of birds. Fear, or any thing which may affect the 
animal functions, exerts its influence upon the colour also. 
The eggs of birds which I have captured on their nests, 
during the time that they were laying, and kept in close con¬ 
finement, have thus been deprived of much of their colour. 


INTRODUCTION. 


• • • 

Vlll 

That the varied and beautiful hues which adorn the eggs of 
birds, are given them by the God of nature, as a protection 
from discovery and destruction, by resembling the various sui- 
faces upon which they are deposited (as stated by M. Glogei, 
a German naturalist), when taken as a general rule, I am by 
no means ready to admit. On the other hand, I am prepared 
to show, that such precautions would be for the most part un¬ 
necessary and superfluous. 

By far the most numerous class of birds are those which 
build in trees or bushes, and at an elevation from the ground; 
and the nest—which then forms the object of search and de¬ 
tection—being once discovered, further precaution to conceal 
the eggs would be of no avail : and on this account we find 
such an instinctive anxiety amongst the feathered race to con¬ 
ceal and protect the homes of their future offspring. I could 
quote a number of instances, any of which are sufficient to 
excite our wonder and admiration. Who has ever discovered 
the nest of the Common Wren, concealed and buried as it is 
amongst the same material of which it is itself constructed, 
without a feeling of pleasure and surprise 1 I have frequently 
seen it let into the hollow of some moss-clad stump, or so 
nicely woven into the side of a clover stack, when, had it not 
been for the small round hole of entrance, discovery would have 
been perfectly evaded. 

The nest of the Chaffinch is little less worthy of remark ; 
built upon the branch of some tree clothed with lichens, it is 
covered with the same material. Those birds which, from the 
large size of their nests, are prevented from thus concealing 
them, have recourse to other means of protection. The Hawk, 
the Crow, and the Magpie, place theirs in places difficult of 
access; the nest of the latter being defended besides by a roof 
of thorns, which is not easily penetrated. 

That there are several instances in which the eggs of birds 
are admirably adapted to, and closely resemble in colour, the 
ground upon which they are deposited, [ have frequently found, 
much to my annoyance, when in search of them; and these are 


INTRODUCTION. 


IX 


just the instances where such protection is most necessary, and 
where contrasting colours would lead to their detection ; such 
is the case amongst those birds which, making little or no nest, 
deposit their eggs, for the most part, upon the bare ground, or 
the shingle of the sea beach, and leave them uncovered on the 
least alarm. Of these are the Ring Dotterel, Oyster Catcher, 
the Sandpipers, Peewit, and the Terns, especially the Lesser. 
Amongst the other ground builders, the safety of the eggs 
consists in the careful and constant assiduity with which they 
are covered by the female; and more so in the adaptation of 
the bird’s feathers than its eggs, to the colour of the sur¬ 
rounding surface ; as the dull and very similar colouring of 
the females of nearly all the Duck tribe, of the hen Pheasant, 
and the Grey Hen (Tetrao Tetrix), — so strongly as they 
are contrasted too with the brighter colours of their mates, 
which do not assist in incubation,—will illustrate most ad¬ 
mirably. Were I to mention those birds, the eggs of which 
do not bear any resemblance to the surface on which they 
are deposited, I should have to enumerate much the greater 
portion of our British Birds. Who will say that there is 
any resemblance whatever in colour, between the clear blue 
eggs of the Thrush, and the mud-lined interior of its nest ? 
Neither do the bright blue eggs of the Hedge Sparrow bear 
much more resemblance to the nest. What likeness do the 
eggs of the Swans, the Geese, the Harriers, and the nume¬ 
rous species of Ducks (all white, or nearly so), bear to the 
ground upon which they are placed ? and why, if their 
colours only are intended for their concealment, are eggs 
so entirely different in that respect, placed in situations per¬ 
fectly alike ? 

It may be asked, for what purpose then are these beautiful 
colours lavished so abundantly? For the same purpose for 
which they adorn the plumes of the humming-bird, or the 
wing of the resplendent butterfly—to gladden our eyes, “To 
minister delight to man, to beautify the earth.” And thus it 
is that the eggs of nearly all those birds (the Owls, Kingfisher, 
Bee-eater, Boiler, Nuthatch, and the Woodpecker), which con- 


X 


INTRODUCTION. 


ceal them in holes, are white, because in such situations colour 
would be displayed to no purpose. 

The n um ber of eggs laid by various tribes of birds, as well 
as by the different genera of the same family, vary much. 
The more typical species of these are, however, for the most 
part nearly alike in this respect. In every instance we shall 
find the same beneficent influence acting for our welfare; in¬ 
creasing rapidly those species which are of the greatest use to 
us, and bestowing upon those intended for our more immediate 
benefit, a most wonderful power of ovo-production; and at the 
same time curtailing in their numbers those species which, in 
their greater increase, would soon become injurious to us. Most 
of the Rasores, which, as game, form so agreeable an addition 
to our table, as well as the Duck tribe, lay numerous eggs. 
Some of the Warblers, and the various species of Titmice, 
which render us such essential service in the destruction of 
the numerous insects which would otherwise become a nui¬ 
sance, are unusually prolific. 

In their relative sizes, the eggs of birds differ in a remark¬ 
able degree from each other, as I have shown, when describing 
those of the Guillemot; and this will be seen by comparing 
those of a few species. The Guillemot and the Raven are 
themselves of about equal size; their eggs vary as ten to one. 
The Snipe and the Blackbird differ but slightly in weight; 
their eggs remarkably. The egg of the Curlew is six or eight 
times as large as that of the Rook ; the birds are of about 
the same size. The eggs of the Guillemot are as big as those 
of an Eagle; whilst those of the Snipe equal in size the eggs 
of the Partridge and the Pigeon. The four eggs of the Jack 
Snipe weigh nearly as much as the bird itself. The reason 
of this great disparity in size is, however, obvious ; the eggs 
of all those birds which quit the nest soon after they are 
hatched, and which are consequently more fully developed at 
their birth, are very large, and yet so admirably formed to 
occupy the least possible space, that the Snipe has no more 
difficulty in covering its eggs, though apparently so dispropor¬ 
tionate, than the Thrush or the Blackbird. 


INTRODUCTION. 


Xl 


As I have elsewhere remarked, much useful and highly in¬ 
teresting information might be gained towards the classification 
of birds, by paying some attention to their eggs; and it is very 
gratifying to find, in thus regarding them, that, with the ex¬ 
ception of a few instances, were we to take the eggs of our 
British birds as our only guide, we should arrive at the best 
and most approved arrangement of the different genera. All 
those new genera which have been lately adopted, are clearly 
indicated in the difference of their eggs, and in none more 
than in those of the Snow Bunting and the Bearded Titmouse ; 
the former of which was associated with the genus Emberiza, 
the latter with that of Parus; the very great similarity which 
the eggs of each of these genera (Emberiza and Parus) bear 
to each other, at once pointing out the intruders. I would 
not, however, have any one place too implicit reliance on the 
character of their eggs for the arrangement of the birds. 
There are puzzling instances in which, by so doing, we should 
be led into error, and be tempted to place apart from each other 
the eggs of the Pied and Spotted Flycatchers, the Common and 
Tythis Bedstarts, and to separate those of the Common and 
Misletoe Thrush from the rest of the genus, the Swallow from 
the Martin and the Swift, the Little Bittern from the more 
common species, and the Woodcock from the Snipe; and placing 
too much reliance upon those minute differences which serve so 
beautifully to connect and represent neighbouring genera, we 
should be led into a similar mistake with regard to the eggs 
of the Pied Wagtail, the Grasshopper Warbler, the Wood 
Wren, and the Wheat ear. 

The generic characters of eggs are in some cases as dis¬ 
tinctly marked in contour and in colour as are the birds them¬ 
selves. Any one would immediately recognize the close affinity 
which those of the different species of Crows bear to each other, 
as also those of the Owls, the Ducks, the Divers, the Buntings, 
the Titmice, the Sea Gulls, and the Terns, greatly as the latter 
differ individually. In shape, the eggs of the Grebes are very 
peculiar, as are those of the more typical waders. This affinity 


XU 


INTRODUCTION. 


is not confined to genera only, but may be traced, more or less, 
in most of the families, and is very remarkable throughout the 
Scolopacidse, the eggs of which are much pointed at the smaller 
end, and almost invariably four in number. 

There is too, in many genera, a beautiful analogical resem¬ 
blance with others nearly allied to them. The Eagles and 
Hawk tribe (nearly all of which breed aloft) approach by the 
genus Circus, which breeds upon the ground and lays eggs 
which are white or nearly so, that section of the Owls which 
is the most Hawk-like, the species of which also, departing 
from the habits of the rest of their family, breed,upon the 
ground. The eggs of the following genera, Corvus, Fregilus, 
Pica, and Garrulus, are all closely allied, as are those of the 
Poller, Merops, and Alcedo. 

Eggs are subject to much variety, and are not without those 
apparent discrepancies which beset the study of other branches 
of Natural History, and which are only to be reconciled by 
oft-repeated observation, and by combining with their study a 
knowledge of the nests in which they are found. And thus, as 
regards the different species of a genus : although the eggs of 
some of the Thrushes usually bear but slight resemblance to 
each other in colour, we shall find upon a closer acquaintance 
with them, that there are other connecting links. The nests of 
all the species are much alike, each being strongly cemented 
with clay; and much as the eggs of the Common Thrush and 
the Blackbird appear to differ at first sight, they nevertheless 
run imperceptibly into each other, in some of their varieties. T 
have seen eggs of both species, of a clear spotless blue. My 
friend, Mr. Henry Doubleday, one year found several nests of 
the Blackbird, at Epping, in one locality, the eggs of which 
were all of this description ; a variety perpetuated, probably, 
through the several individuals of the same family. Eggs of 
the Wheatear are occasionally spotted like those of the allied 
species, and eggs of the Spotted Flycatcher, as well as those of 
the Pied, are sometimes of a uniform unspotted blue. No one 
who has seen the nests of the Swallow and the House Martin 


INTRODUCTION. 


xiii 

(resembling each other as much as they differ from those of all 
other genera), will need to be told that they are closely allied, 
much as the eggs differ in colour. 

With regard to birds of the same species, although the eggs 
of most of them are subject to more or less variety, some are 
constant, or nearly so, in their colouring, whilst others display 
an almost unceasing variety. Amongst the former, are those 
chiefly of one colour, to which may be added a few others, 
which seldom vary much. These are the Golden Oriole, Lesser 
Whitethroat, the various species of Titmice, Reed Bunting, 
Goldfinch, and Black Grouse. The eggs, on the other hand, 
which are subject to the greatest variety, are those of the Water 
Birds, the Gulls, Terns, Guillemots, &c. ; and of the land birds, 
the Red Grouse, the Rook and Carrion Crow, Yellow Bunting, 
and House Sparrow, and above all, the Tree Pipit. There is, 
notwithstanding, in all these a character, by which a little ex¬ 
perience will for the most part enable us to determine the 
species ; and though we might not readily believe the varieties 
of the eggs of the Tree Pipit to belong to the same species, we 
should have no difficulty in referring them to the right genus. 

In other branches of Natural History the larger the series of 
specimens we have for comparison the more likely we are to 
arrive at a correct conclusion as to species. In Oology it is 
otherwise. The more we see of the eggs of the Waders and 
Water birds the more difficult it becomes to point out with 
certainty the demarcation of species, or to fix upon those which 
are the most typical. Colour and form alone are but unsafe 
guides. 

In places where those materials are to be met with which 
instinct has taught individuals of the same species of bird to 
make use of in the construction of their nests, we shall usually 
find the same adopted. I know of no other bird which seems 
so much to consult its own taste in this respect, as the Common 
Wren. The materials of its nest are as different as the situa¬ 
tions in which it is placed. It may be found built entirely of 
clover, even in places where moss is abundant; its interior is 


XIV 


INTRODUCTION. 


also formed according to the taste of the owner, and is as often 
found without any lining at all, as it is thickly lined with 
feathers. 

There are many instances in which circumstances have led 
to a deviation from the usual habit. Those Eagles and Hooded 
Crows inhabiting the Shetland Islands, which would build their 
nests of sticks, were such materials to be had, are there com¬ 
pelled to substitute the larger species of sea-weed. A Carrion 
Crow which resorted to the Fern Islands to breed, for the same 
reason (the absence of sticks), made its nest in a hole in the 
ground, surrounding it, to give it sufficient depth, with a wall 
of sods. 

There are a few deviations from the usual instinct, which, 
not being influenced by local causes, are very remarkable; 
and in no instance which has come under my notice, more so 
than in the nest of a Blackbird, sent me by my friend, the 
Rev. W. D. Fox, which is lined with black hair, instead of 
the usual material, dry grass ; the same circumstance having 
occurred several years in succession. 

With regard to the situation of their nests, birds seem to be 
left much more to the influence of their own choice, construct¬ 
ing them with surprising skill, in places apparently most un¬ 
suitable. Some species, leaving their natural mode of life, and 
their own wild haunts, have adapted their habits to our own, 
and being to a certain extent domesticated, have become our 
confiding friends and delightful companions. The Swift, the 
Martin, and the Swallow, once the inhabitants of the inland 
rocks and lonely sea cliffs of our coast, have now become the 
voluntary inmates of our dwellings, cheering us with their 
cheerful notes and elegant evolutions. The shy Hawk, the wily 
Raven, and the midnight Owl, leaving their native woods, have 
built their nests in the towers and steeples of our towns and 
cities. The Magpies, too, which with us are so suspicious of 
wrong, build their nests under the eaves of the Norwegian cot¬ 
tages. Numerous instances might be given, in which birds 
have chosen the most strange and singular situations for their 


INTRODUCTION. 


XV 


nests, adapting them as though reason had been their guide. 
The most remarkable on record is that of the Rooks, which for 
ten successive years, built their nest upon the vane at the top of 
the Newcastle Exchange, revolving with every change of wind. 
The House Sparrow, the nest of which, when built in trees, is 
large and carefully arched over, dispenses with the labour of 
constructing its own roof, when it places it under the eaves of 
our dwellings. 


In coming to the conclusion of this, the Third Edition of our 
British birds’ eggs, it is natural to revert to the time—some 
twenty-five years ago—when the earliest pages of the Oology 
first saw the light, and to note with pleasure the great progress 
which has been made during that period towards a knowledge 
of the subject. The book (“ the Oology”) was itself as migra¬ 
tory as the birds, the eggs of which are depicted in its pages; 
many of the plates were drawn at night after a long day of rail¬ 
way surveying in the fields, and the letter-press was printed 
wherever the author happened to be stationed at the time. 
There were few collectors to aid him in those days; and it is 
with a grateful feeling he remembers now the helping hand 
which was then held out to him by his friend, Mr. Yarrell. 

Many eggs, which are now to be had in profusion, were then 
scarcely known; and a large number, which in my most hopeful 
hours I never expected to see, have been figured in the succeed¬ 
ing editions of the work. So little was known as to our British 
birds’ eggs at the commencement of the “ Oology,” that its 
plates were published unarranged, so as to receive new materials 
during its progress, and it was with feelings of delight which 
leave a bright memory behind them, that the kindness and libe¬ 
rality of correspondents, such as Mr. Spurgeon and Mr. Dash- 
wood, enabled me to add one beautiful thing after another to 
the list, until the extended researches of Mr. Salmon, in Ork¬ 
ney ; Mr. Atkinson and Mr. Procter, in Iceland; my own bird- 




XVI 


INTRODUCTION. 


nesting excursion in Shetland and in Norway with Mr. John 
Hancock, and Mr. Hoys’ successes in the Low Countries of the 
Continent, nearly doubled our previous knowledge ere the close 
of the book. 

Since then collectors of birds’ eggs have become numerous. 
Oology has become a fashionable pursuit; dishonest dealers have 
largely profited by the demand; plaster casts of a rare egg have 
been sold as the originals ; and with the exception of some of 
the best, there are few collections in which counterfeit eggs do 
not abound. 

It has been my anxious wish to figure eggs only which those 
most conversant with the subject believe to be truly authentic. 
In the present edition the eggs of five species figured in the 
last (as to which there are some doubts), have been omitted, 
twenty-five new species have been added ; and those who are 
credulous enough to be satisfied with them, will find representa¬ 
tions of many more in a book of which the Eev. Orpen Morris 
is the editor. 

Most of that which is new and of value in the present edi¬ 
tion has been supplied by the perseverance and enthusiasm of 
Mr. Wolley. To him, to Mr. Bond, Mr. Hancock, Mr. Newton, 
Mr. Salmon, Mr. Walter, Mr. Wilmot, and Mr. Yarrell, I would 
offer my most earnest thanks. The kindness which I have ex¬ 
perienced from each and all of them is not to be forgotten. 


The egg which is drawn at fig. ii. plate xxxii. is not that of 
the Beed Warbler, but of Salicaria pa-lustris, a continental species. 

It was sent me by mistake, but will not inaptly represent 
some varieties which I have seen of eggs of our own British 
species. 



PREFACE. 


I had never flattered myself with the slightest ex¬ 
pectation that a Third Edition of the work on Birds’ Eggs 
would be required, and regret that I have not accumu¬ 
lated — during the sale of the second edition — those 
materials, which I otherwise might have done, to render 
it more worthy of the approbation of the public. 

Greatly encouraged by the success of the past, and 
the very kind and liberal offers of assistance which I 
have met with for the present and the future, no pains 
shall be spared on my part to make the illustrations of 
the forthcoming work as perfect as possible. 

When the former edition of the Eggs was published, it 

was my wish that it should be as much as possible a sequel 

to the British Birds of Mr. Yarrell, and in bringing out 

* 

another edition of the work—and for the same reason— 
I am induced to figure the eggs of those species of birds 
which have since been added to his work, not because 
I think them in all cases well entitled to a place amongst 
our British birds, but because he has thought so. 

It is a difficult thing in these days of rapid transit 
to draw a line which shall mark the boundary of a truly 



2 


PREFACE. 


British bird. Resting on the rigging, many a bird might 
cross the ocean with a steamboat from the New World 
to the Old. 

I would not hesitate to admit as British, after one well 
authenticated visit, a bird of Europe, or of those coun¬ 
tries at no great distance from us and closely bordering 
upon the European continent; but, until there is a well- 
attested fact that a land bird can cross on wing some 
thousand miles of sea, I would rigidly exclude all birds 
which are exclusively Asiatic or Australian or American, 
and would either doubt the authority which told me that 
they had been seen alive and at large in Britain, or feel 
perfectly convinced that they had escaped from con¬ 
finement. 

Oatlands, Walton-on-Tbames, 

April, 1853. 






I 












♦ 










EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 


RAPTORES. 


VULTURTDJE. 


GRIFFON VULTURE. 

VULTUR FULVUS. 

PLATE I. 

The occurrence of a solitary specimen of this bird 
in Ireland was communicated to Mr. Yarrell, who has 
figured it in a Supplement to his “ British Birds.” Of its 
habits during the breeding season we have the best 
account from the pen of Le Vaillant, who, when de¬ 
scribing another species of Vulture which he calls I’Ori- 
cou, tells us that the same description is equally applicable 
to the Griffon Vulture, which he names Chasse-fiente, and 
which he says is much the more numerous of the two, 
although they both lay the same number of eggs, two, 
for the most part, but sometimes, though rarely, three ; 
that they resort, in the breeding season, in great numbers 
together, to rocks in the most elevated situations, and 
that a single precipice will contain as many nests as there 
are convenient places to receive them; that the birds live 
very amicably together, and that he has seen three nests 
placed side by side in the same cave ; that during the 
time of incubation the male bird stands sentinel at the 
mouth of the hole, thus pointing out the position of its 
nest, but that it is almost always inaccessible. He says, 



4 


VULTURID^E. 


that lie has, nevertheless, often risked his life to examine 
the eggs and young birds, and with the aid of his Hotten¬ 
tots has sometimes overcome all the difficulties, although 
the approach to their retreat is so slippery as greatly to 
increase the danger, and the den itself indescribably 
disgusting. Le Vaillant says, that the Griffon Vultures 
are more conspicuous than the fOricou, and are very 
easily seen upon the rocks at the entrance of their holes, 
and that it is a pretty sight to watch a troop of them 
covering a whole chain of mountains and to see them, 
on the report of a gun, heavily take flight together and 
rise in circles in the air. He says that the eggs are 
bluish white, that he has often eaten them, and found 
them tolerably good. The egg from which my figure is 
taken was laid at Knowsley, and presented to Mr. Wolley, 
who has kindly trusted it to my care. Others have been 
laid at the Jardin des Plantes in Paris. 

Mr. Yarrell says, that “ in Sardinia, and some other 
countries, this Vulture makes a large nest of three or four 
feet in diameter on high trees, and lays two, or sometimes 
three, elongated white eggs.” 





n 






5 


EGYPTIAN VULTURE. 


RA P TO RES. 


VULTURIDJE. 


EGYPTIAN VULTURE. 

VULTUR PERCNOPTERUS. 

PLATE II. 

Very little information is to be had in the works of 
the Continental naturalists with regard to the habits and 
propagation of this species. Temminck says that they 
are numerous on the Spanish side of the Pyrenees, but 
nowhere so abundant as in Africa, and that they breed 
in those precipices which are the most difficult of access. 
M. A. Moquin Tandon, of the Jardin des Plantes at 
Toulouse, who has kindly sent me a drawing of an egg 
of this species which is in his own collection and re¬ 
sembles the second figure of the plate, tells me that in 
1842 two nests of the Vidtur percnopterus were disco¬ 
vered in the vicinity of Arles on the Pyrenees each of 
which contained two eggs ; and that the following sum¬ 
mer a third nest was found on the Pic de St. Loup, 
near Montpelier, which had in it but one egg. 

Mr. Wolley obtained eggs of this species (from one 
of which the figure in my former edition was taken), 
during a visit to Tangier, from a dealer of the name of 
Favier, who assured him that the old bird had been shot 
from the nest in which was one of them. Mr. Wolley 
has sent me the following :—“ I was informed by M. 
Favier that the Vultur percnopterus makes its nest at 
the end of March in the crevices and caves of rocks, 


6 


VULTURIDjE. 


usually in places inaccessible and in a perpendicular 
cliff; that it lays in the month of April one or two eggs, 
which are hatched about the end of May; and that the 
young ones remain in the nest till July, before which 
they are incapable of flight; that of four sets of eggs 
taken in Western Barbary, there were two pairs and two 
single ones.” 

This confirms the account sent me by M. Tandon. 

The Egyptian Vulture is nowhere so frequent as in 
Egypt, and particularly about Cairo, where it was a very 
great breach of order, at the time Bruce wrote, to kill 
one. In this and other towns it occupies the roofs of 
houses, in company with black kites, hawks, crows and 
turtle doves; all forming, says Sonnini, a distinct popu¬ 
lation, not less numerous, but more peaceable than that 
below. 

Bruce thinks that the Arab name Rachama, still ap¬ 
plied to this bird, does not allow us to doubt that it 
was the emblem of parental affection, which is frequently 
mistranslated Eagle in our Bible. 

In South Africa Le Vaillant found a pair attached to 
most of the dwellings of the natives, generally seated 
upon the fences with which they inclose their cattle, 
where they are not only uninjured by the owners, but 
are also objects of pleasure to them, eating greedily even 
what they refuse. 

They are occasionally collected in numbers round 
their food like the larger Vultures, and Sonnini states 
that during the French occupation of Egypt, the first 
sound of the cannon brought these and other birds of 
similar tastes from every direction to the summons. 

The eggs of this species differ considerably in form 
and colour; whilst some have the usual contour, as in the 
second figure of the plate, others are widest exactly in 


EGYPTIAN VULTURE. 


7 


the middle, and taper to each end. Besides the two 
varieties figured, Mr. Wolley’s collection contains a third, 
which differs very little from eggs of the osprey. To 
the liberality of Mr. Walter—in whose fine collection 
they are—I am indebted for the use of the eggs figured. 



































* 
























GOLDEN EAGLE. 


9 


nest. This was high up the face of a precipice, the only 
access to which was through a deep and rugged gully 
on the right. We succeeded, after a most toilsome 
scramble, in reaching a sloping ledge of rocks, which we 
supposed must be above the nest. We had laid down 
our guns, that we might hold on by the scanty tufts of 
grass which grew from the crevices of the rock, when 
the eagle rose within gunshot of our position, discovering 
to us its nest, a young one, and an unhatclied egg. The 
nest was placed in a hollow of the rock, and was com¬ 
posed of a large mass of sticks, and appeared to be 
thickly lined with soft materials. Between us and it 
intervened a large cubic mass of rock, so steep on its 
sides as to prevent the chance of our reaching the nest 
without the help of ropes. It went sadly against our 
inclination to retreat; it wanted, however, but a few 
hours of the time when we must commence our home¬ 
ward voyage. 

In Norway, where they enjoy an uninterrupted sway, 
and can choose their nesting-places undisturbed amongst 
those magnificent rocks which bound its glorious fiords, 
we saw them often perched upon the centre of some 
lonely island, where they would remain seated motion¬ 
less for hours together. At midnight, whilst tranquilly 
gliding over those calm inland seas, we have sometimes 
disturbed one when thus seated. Its motion is then 
slow, heavy, and like a Heron, till, rising high in air, it 
assumes its own majestic flight. 

Upon the pinnacle of a steep and rocky island, to 
which we had climbed to watch the midnight sun, we 
found that we had seated ourselves upon the oft-fre¬ 
quented resting-place of the Golden Eagle. The rock was 
strewed with feathers and the remains of many a meal. 

Birds of the same species, with one or two exceptions, 


10 


FALCONIDiE. 


of which the Common Wren is the most remarkable, 
will almost invariably, when under favourable circum¬ 
stances, form their nests of the same materials. 

In Shetland, where they would have some difficulty 
to find a stick, the eagles have very cleverly constructed 
their nests of those long rope-like pieces of sea-weed, 
which, having their roots at the bottom of the ocean, 
rise like mimic forests to its surface, and spread out 
their long riband leaves. These in their pliability are 
so admirably adapted for the purpose, that I much doubt 
whether a Shetland eagle, with the choice of both, would 
ever have recourse to the more commonly used material. 

Foula, one of the Shetland Islands, the western boun¬ 
dary of which is formed by one of the grandest pro¬ 
montories in Britain, is the favourite resort of the Golden 
Eagle. 

It begins to breed in March, or early in April, and 
will return to the same eyrie for many successive years. 
It makes a nest of great size, composed of sticks (in 
Shetland of sea-weed), lined with softer materials, roots, 
dry grass, and heather. The eggs are usually confined 
to two, though sometimes three in number. Mr. Wolley 
had three fertile eggs from one nest, whilst one men¬ 
tioned by Mr. Salmon, in his bird-nesting account of 
Orkney, contained three young ones. 

The most ardent lover of bird-nesting must give place 
to him who has become as familiar with the king of birds 
as others are with crows and magpies. To him I am 
indebted for the following valuable notes, a short extract 
from many pages of interesting matter, which my space 
will not allow me to quote entire. Mr. Wolley, speaking 
of the Golden Eagle, says, “ In different years I have 
carefully examined eight or nine distinct eyries of this 
bird in Scotland, and visited the sites of many more; 


GOLDEN EAGLE. 


1 1 

they have always been in mountainous districts, but only 
in one instance at any considerable elevation, and there 
it was a little cave or cell which appears to have offered 
advantages too great to be neglected. In every other 
case they have been upon a ledge or step, with rock 
rising quite close behind them, and often overhanging 
the nest so as to shelter it more or less. There is fre¬ 
quently a projecting shoulder at one side, and in all 
that I have seen there has also been a face of rock be¬ 
low, sometimes dipping down close, but, in other situa¬ 
tions, not till a distance of several yards from the outer 
edge of the nest; a man, upon whose word I can place 
implicit reliance, told me of an old nest which he also 
offered to show me, placed upon the ground at the foot 
of a rock rising out of a hill side, and near it, also upon 
the ground, the nest of a previous year. 

“ In the Orkney islands I was assured that an old 
woman had one season come unexpectedly upon the 
Golden Eagle’s eyrie, and walked off with the eggs in 
her apron. Generally there is both soil and vegetation 
upon the platform where the nest is placed, with not 
unfrequently a small tree growing in front of it. In 
many it is not more than twelve or twenty feet above 
the ground, and a man can easily climb to it; again, 
there is often a great precipice below, and very little 
rock above the..nest : one was so close to the top that I 
vaulted easily in and out-from the level ground above; 
near this in the same ravine were three nests of other 
years, all accessible from below without the aid of ropes; 
but it is generally through a narrow continuation of the 
ledge that the eyrie is most easily approached; sheep 
droppings once gave me a clue to a simple road out of 
one which I had had much difficulty in reaching, and 
into another some men and dogs followed me by a simi- 


12 


FALCONIDiE. 


lar horizontal route. It is common for eagles to have 
several favourite places in different quarters, and they 
frequently repair two or three nests before malting a 
final choice of one in which to lay their eggs. The 
same individuals will select very different situations. I 
am told of a pair which alternate between a crag quite 
impregnable and a corner into which a child might 
climb; but, besides this general change of quarters, the 
exact site of the nest is often altered from year to year, 
so that three or four of different ages may be seen within 
a few yards of each other, and of such I once saw a 
recently-repaired one, besides that actually occupied; 
yet some favourite eyries are used for a number of years 
in succession, ten, twelve, or more years I have often 
heard mentioned by experienced highlanders other rocks 
which have scarcely been without eagles in the memory 
of man. It is evident that they are influenced more by 
the seclusion than by the inaccessibility of the spot they 
choose. They do not care for foxes, which often make 
their earths so as to be conveniently near the well-known 
larder.” 

1,4 A more likely rock for an eyrie is a much subdivided 
one with grassy ledges and well-sheltered corners, than 
one with a great perpendicular face. Two of the eggs 
which Mr. Hewitson proposes to figure were, however, 
in a crag some hundreds of feet in height, and there 
was scarcely a platform sufficient to support the nest, 
which, as usual in such cases, was of great size; I know 
of two or three other similar eyries. The nest itself is 
made first of sticks, sometimes in a great mass, but in 
other situations even quite dispensed with ; where they 
are used in quantity a few of the largest may be nearly 
an inch in diameter; upon the sticks is heather, that at 
the top newly gathered, and in one instance partiv re- 


GOLDEN EAGLE. 


13 

placed by freshly-broken sprigs of the Scotch fir; the 
lining is of grass, moss, fern, and other vegetable, not 
animal materials, whatever might happen to be at hand, 
put in promiscuously; but there is invariably a large 
proportion of Luzula sylvatica, green outside, but pre¬ 
sently dried up in the centre of the nest by the heat 
of the bird. These tufts become compressed laterally, 
and look like little pine-apple tops. The whole fabric, 
though apparently loose, is very firm, and scarcely yields 
to the weight of a man. It is wide and flat, though, dur¬ 
ing incubation, there is a well-formed cavity in the cen¬ 
tre. It may be at the base five or six feet across. The 
eggs are laid at intervals of several days.” 

“ The hen sits very close after she begins to lay, so 
that the first egg is ready to hatch before the second. 
It is the hen which is always shot in the first instance, 
and then the cock will take to the eggs for a while ; 
when she is sitting hard it is difficult to make her leave 
her nest, except by catching her eye from above, or by 
throwing a stick or stone, as I have more than once 
experienced. The eggs are hatched at the end of April, 
and then the forays of the old birds begin to be formi¬ 
dable.” 

After having seen a number of the eggs of the Golden 
Eagle, chiefly in the collections of Mr. Wolley and Mr. 
Walter, I think that the one figured in plate iv. (fig. 1) 
is the most typical, and not unlike the egg sent me by 
Mr. Selby for the “ British Oology.” The second figure 
in plate iii. represents a rather common variety, the 
spots being usually more sparing in number and of 
lighter colour, and like an egg kindly sent me from the 
collection of Mr. Wilmot. Fig. 1 is of unusual beauty, 
and a good deal like that in the “ Eggs of British 
Birds,” from the cabinet of Mr. Adamson. In Mr. 


14 


FALC0NID7E. 


Walter’s collection there is an egg of very unusual 
colour closely mottled throughout with ochreous brown. 
The eggs are not unfrequently white, and not easily 
distinguished from those of the White-tailed Eagle. 

The beautiful pair of eggs in plate iii. are from the 
collection of Mr. Wolley; they were taken by himself 
from the same nest. 


15 


WHITE-TAILED EAGLE. 


RAPTORES. 


FA LC0N1DM. 


WHITE-TAILED EAGLE. 

SEA-EAGLE. 

Aquila ALBICILLA. 

PLATE IV. PIG. II. 

Those who have been in the habit of imagining for 
themselves a suitable habitation for the eyrie of the king 
of birds, and associating the name of eagle with the 
cloud-capped mountain-top, the inaccessible precipice, 
or the dark ravine, will have their dreams dissipated and 
be greatly disappointed, when they find, by the long and 
interesting aoccunt of the habits of the White-tailed 
Eagle with which I have been kindly favoured by Mr. 
Wolley, that it is content at times to make its nest upon 
the ground. 

“ The Sea-Eagle generally makes its nest in the high 
cliffs of the coast, where it lives upon fish, guillemots, 
young herring gulls, &c., but is also occasionally found 
breeding inland. In the former situation an eyrie, which 
I visited two years in succession, and from which I took 
the egg which Mr. Hewitson figures, had nothing but a 
very little heather, grass, and moss used in its construc¬ 
tion. Two other nests which were carefully described 
to me were made principally of sea-weed, and were in 
such “ tremendous cliffs” that my informant’s “hair gets 
strong” when he thinks of them. In the Shetlands an 
inaccessible eyrie was pointed out to me on the extreme 


16 


FALCONIDjE. 


top of a stack, that is, a steep detached rock; and 1 
have seen another such stack on the north-east coast 
of Scotland, which was also said to have an eyrie at its 
summit. 

In inland situations the Sea-Eagle is rare when com¬ 
pared with the Mountain Eagle (as the Golden Eagle is 
usually called), and it generally establishes itself upon 
a rock or islet in the middle of a loch. Here it builds, 
upon the ground, or in a tree, a nest, whose construction 
does not at all differ from that of the other eagle, there 
being always in it a certain amount of Luzula sylvatica. 
The tree need by no means be a large one; I have 
seen two nests of different years in trees on separate 
islands in one loch, each only about four feet from the 
ground. I can at this moment call to mind nine in¬ 
stances where I know the localities of such island eyries. 
The old birds do not always calculate the depth of the 
water, as there is one place at least to which a man can 
wade; where swimming is necessary, it is often an affair 
of danger, as the birds will do their best to drown the 
enemy with their wings. In two spots I have seen large 
Scotch firs which have been formerly tenanted by Sea- 
Eagles; one by the side of a loch, the other several miles 
away from any piece of water, in a sort of open wood 
of similar trees. The nest had been in a fork where 
three branches met, twenty feet high ; and, as in other 
cases, the main trunk bore its weight. In one instance, 
the crossed and nearly horizontal trunks of two small 
trees formed the support; one that I have already spoken 
of was in a small alder tree, and had been repaired and 
often frequented by the eagles the season I saw it, yet 
a hooded crow had eggs in the upper branches, and 
wild geese and ducks were sitting in the deep moss and 
long heather within twenty yards. I have not myself 


WHITE-TAILED EAGLE. 


17 


met with an instance of the golden eagle breeding in 
a tree or in a sea-clifF, but on the other hand several of 
the sea-eagle breeding in a rock inland, though not many 
miles away from the ocean ; two such nests that I visited 
were in small rocks of easy access, in every respect like 
golden eagles, and in one the hen showed the same 
unwillingness to leave her eggs. In the summer of 1848, 

I took out of their nest on a ledge of a perpendicular 
sea-clifF, two fully-fledged eaglets, which, now nearly 
five years old, have not (March, 1853) acquired their 
complete adult plumage, though kept in a most congenial 
situation amongst the Derbyshire rocks. The eggs of 
the White-tailed are laid a week or a fortnight later than 
those of the golden eagle ; they are generally smaller.” 

“ The mountain-eagle, as Sir Walter Scott was well 
aware, is a carrion-eater equally with the-sea eagle; a 
friend of mine a few years ago saw no less than nine 
of the two species collected round a dead horse within 
a hundred yards of the windows of his father’s house. 
In Scotland it is a melancholy reflection that they can 
scarcely continue to exist much longer: the White¬ 
tailed eagle in its sea-girt fortresses will be the last to 
disappear. Each inland 4 Craig an Eulah’ will soon 
be an empty name.” 

Latham mentions an instance of this eagle breeding 
in Cumberland. 

Its eggs, two or three in number, are always probably, 
when first laid, of a spotless white, and afterwards receive 
as stains, the slight colour with which they are marked, 
as on the eggs figured in my former works: 

Mr. Wolley tells me that eggs of a species of penguin 
brought home by the guano ships are sold as those of this 

eagle. 


c 


18 


FALC0NID7E. 


Ti A P TO RES. 


FALCONW/E. 


SPOTTED EAGLE. 

SILVER EAGLE. 


Aquila N^evia. 

PLATE V. 

The appearance of two of these birds in Ireland in 
] 845, one of which was shot, was first made known by 
Mr. Davis of Clonmel, and by him communicated to Mr. 
Yarrell, who has introduced it in his supplement as a 
British Bird. 

In the “ Zoologist” for 1846, Air, Weaver of Birming¬ 
ham states that he saw a bird of this species in confine¬ 
ment on Valentia Island on the west coast of Ireland, that 
it was well known there as the Silver Eagle, and that a 
pair of them had bred regularly on the rocks on the island. 

The Spotted Eagle is met with in most of the European 
countries, and is said to build its nest on high trees, lay¬ 
ing two eggs. The egg which I have figured is from the 
collection of Mr. Wolley. Others, which have been most 
liberally intrusted to my care from the collections of Mr 
H. Walter and Dr. Frere, are rather less, and marked with 
blotches of purple and two shades of brown, and much 
resemble eggs of the common buzzard. 




Y 










































yi 







OSPREY, OR FISHING-HAWK. 


19 


RAPTORES. 


FALCON! D/E. 


OSPREY, OR FISHING-HAWK. 

PAN DION HALLEETUS. 

PLATE VI. 

A note which accompanies the egg figured in former 
editions kindly sent me by Sir W. Jardine, states that it 
was procured from Loch Menteith, in Perthshire, a favour¬ 
ite station with the bird; he also states, in his edition of 
Wilson’s u Ornithology,” that “ a pair or two may be found 
about most of the Highland lochs, where they build on the 
ruined towers so common on the edges or insulated rocks 
of these wild waters. The nest is an immense fabric of 
rotten sticks, and is generally placed, if such exists, on 
the top of the chimney, and if this be wanting, on the 
highest summit of the building. An aged tree may some¬ 
times be chosen, but ruins are always preferred, if near.” 

Mr. Wolley, on the eve of starting for a bird-nesting- 
excursion to the north of Sweden, has sent me the follow¬ 
ing notes:-- “ I have seen several nests of the Osprey upon 
the highest points of ruins in and about lochs in Scotland, 
and several more upon small isolated rocks projecting out 
of the water. There is something in the general appear¬ 
ance of the nest which reminds one of nests of the wood 
ants; it is usually in the form of a cone cut off at the top ; 
the sticks project very slightly beyond the sides, and 
are built up with turf and other compact materials; the 
summit is of moss, very fiat and even, and the cavity 
occupies a comparatively small part of it. f know no 


20 


FALCONID7E. 


other nest at all like it. There was a nest for some years 
on the sloping trunk of a tree which several persons have 
described to me. The birds are very constant year after 
year in returning to their old stations, and even after one 
or both birds have been killed in the previous season I 
have frequently" seen individuals flying near the now 
deserted eyrie.” 

Mr. Hancock has described to me the situation of a 
nest from which he took the eggs. It was placed upon 
the highest point of a ruin, standing on an elevated piece 
of ground surrounded on all sides to a distance by a beau¬ 
tiful unbroken slope of grass, giving the bird an uninter¬ 
rupted view of any approaching foe. 

Mr. Selby mentions his having seen the Osprey on 
Loch Awe, “ where an eyrie is annually established upon 
the ruins of a castle near the southern extremity of the 
lake, and another in a similar situation, nearly opposite 
the egress of the river Awe.” 

With all their ingenuity Ornithologists have not been 
able to puzzle out a distinction where there is no differ¬ 
ence between the American Osprey and our own. 

For a further account of this species I have therefore 
had recourse to the faithful description of Wilson, whose 
opportunities of observing it were frequent, for so abund¬ 
ant is it in America, that no less than three hundred nests 
have been counted at one time on an island near New 
York, the old birds living together peaceably in close 
proximity, like so many rooks. 

“ The nest of the Fish-hawk is usually built on the top 
of a dead or decaying tree, sometimes not more than fif¬ 
teen, often upwards of fifty, feet from the ground. 

“ It has been remarked by the people of the sea-coast 
that the most thriving tree will die in a few years after 
being taken possession of by the Fish-hawk. 


OSPREY, OR FISHING*HAWK. 


21 


“ This is attributed to the fish-oil, and to the excrement 
of the bird, but is more probably occasioned by the large 
heap of wet salt materials of which the nest is composed. 
In my late excursion to the sea-shore I ascended to 
several of these nests that had been built in from year to 
year, and found them constructed as follows: externally 
large sticks, from half an inch to an inch and a half in 
diameter, and two or three feet in length, piled to the 
height of four or five feet, and from two to three feet in 
breadth ; these were intermixed with cornstalks, sea-weed, 
pieces of wet turf in large quantities, and lined with dry 
sea-grass, the whole forming a mass observable at half a 
mile’s distance, and large enough to fill a cart, and form 
no inconsiderable load for a horse. These materials are 
so well put together as often to adhere in large fragments 
after being blown down by the wind. 

“ During the time the female is sitting the male fre¬ 
quently supplies her with fish, though she occasionally 
takes a short circuit to sea herself, but quickly returns 
again.” 

It will be seen that some of the sticks which Wilson 
mentions as forming a part of the Osprey’s nest, would 
form a very substantial walking-stick. 

The Osprey, in this country as in America, lays its eggs 
in the beginning of May ; they are sometimes two, almost 
always three in number. Wilson says rarely four. They 
are more oval in form than those of any of our British 
Falconidse ; they do not usually differ much. The second 
figure of the plate is a rare variety from the collection of 
Mr. Hancock. Mr. Wilmot has kindly sent me some 
American eggs to compare with our own, from which they 
differ in being somewhat more sombre, but this may not 
hold good in comparing a larger scries. 


22 


FALCONIDiE. 


RAPTORES. 


FALCON I D/E. 


ICELAND FALCON. 

Falco Islandicus. (Hancock.) 

PLATE VII. 

At the meeting of the British Association in Newcastle, 
Mr. John Hancock cleared up, to the satisfaction of the 
Ornithologists there present, all those doubts which had 
previously existed with regard to the Gyr Falcon ; he has 
since, too, had opportunities of examining a large series 
of both the Greenland and Iceland birds, and of verifying 
and confirming his former opinions on the subject. 

Ornithologists, though unable to settle the question, had 
pretty generally come to the opinion that there was but 
one species, and that the White, or Greenland specimens, 
were merely varieties of age of the Grey, or Iceland bird. 
Faber, who spent some time in Iceland, and paid great 
attention to the subject, finding that the Falcon of that 
country retained the dark grey plumage during the breed¬ 
ing-season, was induced to consider the white birds which 
he saw only in the winter months, as albino varieties of 
the former. 

All these difficulties Mr. Hancock has got rid of, Im¬ 
proving that the beautifully-marked black and white birds 
are of a distinct species ; that the Falcons attain their 
mature dress at the first moult, and that although both the 
species are very much alike when young and in their 
nesting plumage, yet that the bird which remains in Ice¬ 
land the year through, and which must retain the name of 





ICELAND FALCON. 


‘23 


Islandicus which he proposes, never attains the variegated 
plumage of the Gyr or Greenland Falcon figured by 
Mr. Yarrell. 

The egg figured in the former edition was taken by Mr. 
Proctor, the curator of the Durham University Museum, 
from the nest of the true Iceland Falcon, whilst on a visit 
to that country. He had gone out for the purpose of col¬ 
lecting birds and their eggs, but did not reach the fa¬ 
vourite localities of the Iceland Falcon till the broods were 
flown. This was in the beginning of August, when he 
shot several full-grown young ones, and found some of the 
deserted nests; the one from which he took the egg then 
drawn was composed of sticks and roots, lined with wool, 
amongst which the egg, a rotten one, was embedded. He 
supposes that the nest may have been that of a raven, 
which is most probable, as it much resembled one. The 
remains of many birds, vvhimbrels, golden plovers, guil¬ 
lemots, and ducks, lay strewed about the nest. This nest 
and others which Mr. Proctor saw were all in the clifls, 
forming the boundary of fresli-water lakes, but none 
of them so high in the mountainous districts as he ex¬ 
pected to have found them. 

The eggs of the Iceland Falcon, of which I have several 
by me from the collections of Mr. Wilmot, Mr. Walter, 
and Mr. Wolley, and of which I have now seen a numer¬ 
ous series, do not vary much; they are never dark, like 
those of the peregrine falcon, but, like the figure of the 
plate, are mottled uniformly throughout, much more like 
eggs of the hobby than any other bird; and like them, 
too, they are sometimes almost white or sparingly freckled. 
An egg sent me from the collection of Mr. Salmon has 
very little colour, except at the larger end. 


24 


FALCONID^S. 


RAPTURES. 


L A WON! DTE 


PEREGRINE FALCON. 

Falco peregrinus. 

PLATE VIII. 

The Peregrine Falcon is much too large a bird to 
escape for any length of time the prying eyes of the game- 
keeper. It is, therefore, confined to those wild districts 
which he rarely visits, and most of its breeding-places in 
this country are in the highest and least accessible cliffs 
of our sea-coast, to which it will return for many years 
together. 

The Rev. W. D. Fox informs me that a pair of these 
birds have frequented the rocks of the Isle of Wight, and 
although annually plundered of their eggs or young ones, 
have for many successive years returned to the same spot; 
and what is more remarkable, although one of the sexes 
has been sometimes shot, the remaining bird has never 
failed to bring a mate with it the following spring. 

The eggs which I have figured before were sent me by 
the Rev. James Smith of Monquhitter, and were procured 
by him from the fine rocks which bound the Murray Firth. 
Macgillivray says that the Peregrine breeds on the Bass 
Rock, the cliffs near Tantallon Castle, May Island, and St. 
Abb’s Head, Holyhead and Great Ormes Head are men¬ 
tioned by Mr. Yarrell, and very many other places of its 
resort might be enumerated along most of the precipitous 
coast of Great Britain and Ireland. Mr. Wolley tells me 
that it not uufrequently breeds in church-steeples in the 


VI. 










A-* 







PEREGRINE FALCON. 


or 

pJO 

thickly-peopled centre of a city, and that he has seen it on 
the cathedral at Antwerp. 

The Peregrine Falcon usually takes possession of the 
nest of some other bird (Mr. Wolley says of the Raven) 
in which to lay its eggs, and I doubt whether it ever 
makes a nest of its own, otherwise different pairs of 
birds would not so greatly differ in this respect. Whilst 
some are content with a bare stone-floor upon which 
to rear their young ones, or deposit their eggs upon a few 
bones, others are much more comfortably lodged, some¬ 
times, certainly, if not always, in the usurped or aban¬ 
doned nest of another species. 

The eggs do not greatly differ in colour. I have seen 
none about the identity of which I could have any hesita¬ 
tion. The second figure of the plate, from the collection 
of Mr. Wilmot, is one of the most aberrant varieties I 
have seen. The eggs differ, however, very considerably 
in size, some being one-third less than others, most pro¬ 
bably those of young birds. They are three or four in 
number. Audubon mentions a nest which contained five. 


26 


FALCONIDiE. 


RA P TORES. 


RALCON1DJE. 


HOBBY. 

Falco subbuteo. 

PLATE IX. PIG. I. 

This beautiful species of hawk is, I believe, rare through¬ 
out the country, and, as far as my own observation goes, 
is more common in some parts of Yorkshire than else¬ 
where ; not, however, having had an opportunity of seeing 
much of its habits, I avail myself of the information of 
Mr. Hoy. 

He informed me, that the Hobby is a late breeder, sel¬ 
dom having eggs before the first week in June; that it 
very rarely, if ever, builds its own nest, but takes posses¬ 
sion of that of a crow or magpie, preferring those which 
are placed near the tops of high trees ; and 44 though it may 
be met with breeding in large woods, seems very partial 
to isolated groves of fir and other trees situate in an open 
country, where it can not only pursue with advantage the 
feathered tribe, but also capture vast numbers of coleop¬ 
terous and other insects, upon which it feeds very much.” 

When in Norway we met with a nest of the Hobby, 
placed upon a projecting ledge of rock, on the face of a 
steep precipice, which, overhung with brushwood, formed 
a part of the beautiful scenery of one of the lovely lakes 
of that country. This was in the month of June. 

Mr. Aikin says that it used to breed in Huntingdon¬ 
shire previous to 1835, in which year he procured some of 


IX 


\ 





V 










HOBBY. 


27 


the young birds, but that he has not heard of a nest since 
that date. 

The Hobby lays sometimes only two, but for the most 
part three eggs. Mr. Hoy told me that he had never met 
with more. As far as I have had an opportunity of seeing 
them, they are not subject to much variety ; one specimen 
only, which I have previously figured, was remarkable for 
the absence of all the deeper red colouring. They are 
usually very regularly freckled over the whole surface, and 
more nearly resemble eggs of the Iceland falcon than 
those of any other species. The darkest varieties are 
rather like some lightly coloured eggs of the kestrel; they 
are, however, of a pinker hue and without any large 
blotches of colour. Mr. Macgillivray’s description of 
them is quite incorrect. The eggs described by him are 
most likely those of the sparrow-hawk. 


28 


FALCONIDiE. 


RAPTORES. 


FALCON l DM. 


RED-FOOTED FALCON. 

Falco vespertinus. 

PLATE IX. FIO. II. III. 

It is a pleasure to welcome a new bird as British upon 
a claim so good as that of this species. Besides the eight 
instances of its appearance in this country recorded by 
Mr. Yarrell, others have since been noticed in the pages 
of the “ Zoologist,” by Mr. Gurney and other corre¬ 
spondents. Mr. Cockrane had the good fortune to meet 
with this species in Hungary during the breeding season, 
and by him I have been supplied with a series of the eggs 
to draw and the following very interesting information. 
The Red-footed Falcons arrive in the country about the 
middle of April, and have laid their eggs early in the fol¬ 
lowing month. They make no nest for themselves, but, 
after a fight with the lawful owners, take possession of 
those of the crow, rook, or magpie, altering or repairing 
them according to their own taste. Mr. Cockrane says, 
that he has found their eggs in a nest of Corvus corone, 
that they are sometimes even six in number, but most 
commonly four or five, <c sometimes in isolated trees, at 
other times as many as six or seven pairs in one tree, in a 
rookery, exactly as rooks in England.” Mr. Cockrane 
must have been as much surprised when he found these 
birds breeding in company as we were when we first dis¬ 
covered colonies of fieldfares in Norway. The eggs most 
nearly resemble those of the kestrel, being, however, for 


RED-FOOTED FALCON. 


29 


the most part considerably less ; like the eggs of that bird, 
they are sometimes finely freckled throughout, and some¬ 
times like figure three of the plate (a variety which the 
egg of the kestrel is also subject to), much resembling 
eggs of the red grouse. 

Mr. Newcome of Hock wold Hall, well known as one 
of the few English gentlemen who still pursue the most 
interesting sport of Falconry, has obligingly sent me the 
following information, which is fully confirmed by the ac¬ 
count given me by Mr. Cockrane. 

“ I have been informed, on what I consider very good 
authority, that the Red-footed Falcon breeds in societies. 
An old Dutch Falconer told me some years ago, that once, 
when he was in Hungary, he was unable to procure any 
rooks at which to fly his hawks. One day, however, he 
saw at a distance vrhat appeared to him to be a rookery, 
and accordingly he repaired to it. To his surprise he 
found that the nests which he had supposed to be those 
of rooks were the property of a colony of Red-footed 
Falcons.” 




so 


FALOONTD/R. 


FA P TORES. 


FA LCONTDJE. 


MERLIN. 

Falco ^salon. 

PLATE X. FIG. I. 

The eggs of the Merlin, as far as any notice occurs of 
their detection in this country, have been found deposited 
upon the ground, and chiefly upon those extensive heathy 
moors which abound in the north of England. Temminck, 
however, says that the Merlin breeds in trees ; and this, 
I think, is very probably the usual case in those districts 
which abound in wood. Were we to judge from the 
colour of its eggs, we should be led to expect that such 
was its usual habit, since the eggs of the other ground¬ 
building raptorial birds are white, or nearly so. These 
are, in their turn, represented amongst the arborial breeders 
by the white-tailed eagle and the goshawk, which lay 
eggs that are also white, or rarely slightly coloured. 
Whilst in Norway we had the eggs of a hawk brought to 
us which had been taken from a tree, and which I have 
not the least doubt were those of the Merlin, as they cor¬ 
respond exactly with the figure of the plate both in colour 
and in size, and were less than the usual eggs of the 
kestrel. We also noticed a pair of these birds in a thick 
part of the forest, which, during our stay in their neigh¬ 
bourhood, evinced so much of that solicitude which birds 
do on your approach to their nests, that we felt quite sure 
theirs could not be far distant. So thick and tangled 
were the trees and brushwood, that it was not till after a 











MERLIN. 


O 1 

o I 

weary and laborious search that we were rewarded by its 
discovery. It was near the top of a tall spruce fir-tree, 
and had every appearance of having been newly made by 
the birds themselves. It was outwardly of sticks, thickly 
lined with wool. 

The Merlin, as far as my information goes, can scarcely 
be said to make a nest when it deposits its eggs upon the 
ground, laying them either upon the bare heather, or on a 
small quantity of dry grass; they are four or five in num¬ 
ber, and for the most part differ little from the plate; in 
their usual colouring they resemble one of the varieties 
of the eggs of the kestrel figured in the following plate, 
but are usually smaller, browner, and less bright in 
colour, very closely freckled, not spotted, and thickly 
sprinkled over with small black dots. 

Mr. Walter’s collection contains some eggs remarkable 
for their deep red-brown vinous colouring. 

Some of the varieties might more readily be mistaken 
for eggs of the kestrel. One sent me from a nest of five 
in the collection of Mr. Wolley, unfortunately too late to 
figure, is one of the most beautiful eggs I have ever seen. 
The ground colour is of a pure white, thickly blotched 
with crimson red. Similar eggs are also in the collection 
of Mr. John Hancock of Newcastle. 


32 


FALOONIDiE. 


HA PTORES. 


FALCON! DM, 


KESTREL. 

Falco tinncjnculus. 

PLATE X. FIG. II. III. 

I am inclined to believe that the true falcons very rarely 
make a nest for themselves. It is well known that the 
Kestrel most frequently takes possession of that of some 
other bird in which to rear its young ones. It breeds not 
uncommonly in most of our woody districts, laying its 
eggs in the nest of a crow or magpie. 

In those bare and wilder places to which it also fre¬ 
quently resorts, it either makes its own nest, or uses that 
of the raven or the jackdaw, upon the ledge of some rocky 
steep, or on the walls of some crumbling ruin. 

Mr. Macgillivray says, that in Scotland “twenty nests 
of this species might be pointed out in rocks for one in a 
tree,” and that a pair have bred in the castle rock 
of Edinburgh for many years. They breed annually on 
the top of an old tower in Oatlands Park, in the com¬ 
pany and on friendly terms with a colony of jackdaws. 
Mr. Gurney, in a notice in the “ Zoologist,” mentions a 
nest of the Kestrel which was placed in the hollow trunk 
of a pollard oak. Mr. Waterton had one summer no 
less than twenty-four nests of this species in his park 
at Walton, and comes to the conclusion that, “ allowing 
four young ones to the nest, there must have been bred 
here ninety-six windhover hawks last summer; add the 
parent birds, and we shall have in all one hundred and 
forty-four.” 


KESTREL. 


33 


The eggs arc four or five, and sometimes, though rarely, 
six in number; they are beautifully varied and richly 
coloured; some of them are suffused over their whole 
surface with red, closely freckled with darker colour, and 
much resembling in this variety eggs of the Merlin ; 
others are blotched with deep colour; whilst intermediate 
varieties occur with a greater proportion of light ground¬ 
colour, and a good deal resembling some eggs of the 
sparrow-hawk, but always of a redder hue. 

I often think with pleasure of a pet Kestrel which was 
my companion when at school. It had been reared from 
the nest, and used to enjoy so much of its native freedom, 
in long flights round the neighbourhood in which we 
lived, that it never seemed desirous altogether to regain 
it. 

Many a time, when sailing high in air, it would pounce 
down at my call, and quietly settling on my arm, remain 
to eat the food which I had brought it. Sometimes, 
greatly to my consternation, whilst at our daily lessons, it 
would enter the open window and fly, loudly screaming, 
round the school-room. 




L) 


34 


FALCONIDiE. 


RAPTORES. 


FALCON I D/E. 


GOSHAWK. 

Astur palumbarius. 

PLATE XI. 

Mr. Low, in his “ Fauna Orcadensis,” says that the 
Goshawk is rather common there, breeding in the rocks 
of the sea-coast. Whatever may have been its numbers 
in his time, it is not now to be met with either in Orkney 
or the adjacent isles of Shetland. The peregrine falcon 
may sometimes be seen there; and I much suspect that 
it is the Goshawk of Mr. Low. 

The Goshawk is a scarce bird with us, and has rarely 
been detected breeding in this country. Mr. Selby says, 
that it “ is known to breed in the forest of Rothiemurchus 
and on the wooded banks of the Dee.” 

It is to be met with during the summer season in the 
extensive forests of Holland, Germany, and various parts 
of the Continent; and, Mr. Hoy informs me, builds its 
own nest, and, if undisturbed in its possession, will fre¬ 
quently occupy it for several years, making the necessary 
repairs. It is placed in some high tree on the outskirts 
of the forest, and is rarely found in the interior of the 
woodland, except in those parts which are cleared, and 
free from timber. 

The eggs are three or four in number, and are fre¬ 
quently hatched by the middle of May; they are, I 
belie\ e, foi the most part spotless, but are sometimes 
indistinctly marked with brown. 






















’ • --***fft*‘llimfcfWMiL ‘ ‘ ?»t~» 







SPARROW-HAWK. 


35 


HAPTORES. 


FA LCONIDJE. 


SPARROW-HAWK. 

Accipiter nisus. 

PLATE XII. 

The Sparrow-hawk, although one of our commonest 
birds of prey, is not nearly so numerous as the kestrel. 
Its eggs may sometimes be found upon the ledge of some 
lofty cliff, but are much more frequently to be met with 
in trees, for the most part occupying the usurped nest of 
a crow or magpie; sometimes it would appear, however, 
in a nest of its own construction. Mr. Selby says, that 
it occasionally makes its own nest in low trees or thorn- 
bushes, that it is flat and shallow, and very similar to that 
of the ring-dove, but rather larger, and is composed of 
slender twigs. 

The eggs of the Sparrow-hawk, although usually very 
readily distinguished from those of any other species, are 
subject to varieties which sometimes rather resemble those 
of the kestrel but are never marked with the same rich 
crimson colouring. 

There are some specimens, on which all the markings 
are very obscure and indistinct; and others on which all 
the dark blotches of colour are at the smaller instead of 
the larger end. I know of no egg which is so subject to 
this variety. Mr. Walter's collection contains one that 
is white, except a few black dots; another that is 
pointed at the smaller end like the egg of a wader. 


36 


FALCONIDiE. 


RAPTORES. 


FALCON! DM ► 


KITE. 

Milvus vulgaris. 

PLATE XIII. 

The Kite appears to be, from choice, rather local; 
whether so or not, it is now in England confined to some 
of our largest woods. Dr. Heysham, speaking some years 
ago, says that it breeds in the woods near Armathwaite 
and Ullswater. Macgillivray says, that, “ from Stirling 
and Perth westward it is often seen, and in some parts of 
the counties of Dumbarton, Argyle, and Perth cannot be 
considered scarce.” Mr. Selby says, that “ it occurs plen¬ 
tifully in Aberdeenshire.” I have seen it in the vicinity 
of Loch Katrine, and have had the pleasure of watching 
its graceful circling flight from the beautiful banks of 
Loch Awe ; and have frequently seen two or three to¬ 
gether when passing the woods in the neighbourhood of 
Alconbury Hill, its well-known breeding place ; and here, 
Mr. Wolley informs me, there were still some left in 1844, 
but that the last of them have been since destroyed— 
that “ in the northern districts the value of some of its 
feathers to the salmon-fisher has greatly contributed to 
its destruction.” Mr. Wolley has also sent me the follow¬ 
ing very interesting notes :—“ It was formerly so abun¬ 
dant in the streets of London, that several visitors from 
the Continent have made a note of their surprise at its 
numbers and familiarity. A learned writer in the ‘Quar¬ 
terly Review,’ in an article upon the Bohemian Embassy 


xm. 












KITE. 


37 


to England some four hundred years ago, supposes that 
the word 4 Milvi,’ in Schassek’s Journal, must have been 
a mistake for 4 cygni,’ as London had always been cele¬ 
brated for swans ; but other old writers leave no room for 
doubt that the Kite was the most familiar bird with the 
citizens of old London. Ilow few of the persons who see 
the paper toys hovering over the parks on fine days of 
summer, have any idea that the bird from which they 
derive their name used to float all day in hot weather 
high over the heads of their ancestors! They were 
resident in England all the year, whilst in Italy and 
Greece they entirely disappeared during the winter, and 
were looked upon as the harbingers of spring.” 

In the Zoological Gardens last year a pair of Kites 
made their nest upon the ground, in the corner of their 
cage, and the female sat for a long time very seduously 
upon her eggs. 

The Kite builds its nest in the fork of a large tree. It 
is composed of sticks, lined with dry grass, wool, and 
other soft materials. It lays three or four eggs, which do 
not greatly vary ; but in some of their varieties are not to 
be distinguished from eggs of the common buzzard, by 
which they are represented in the collections of those 
who take them upon the authority of a dealer. 

Mr. Walter has some beautiful eggs of this species; 
one closely covered all over with light rufous blotches ; 
another with beautiful tints of lilac and purple, relieved 
with brown. 



FALCONIDiE. 


38 


RAP TORES. 


FALCON ID A\. 


COMMON BUZZARD. 

Buteo vulgaris. 

PLATE XIV. FIGS. I. II. 

The Common Buzzard is, with all the larger birds of 
prey, driven to seek shelter in a few of our more exten¬ 
sive woods, far from which it is rarely seen. Its nest is 
built in trees, and is composed of sticks, lined with a 
quantity of wool, fur, and such-like soft materials. In 
Scotland, where it is more numerous than with us, Mr. 
Wolley tells me that it inhabits districts quite without 
trees, making its nest—which is very much like an eagle’s, 
except in size, and lined with the same kind of dry grass 
—upon the ledges of rocks. Mr. Macgillivray says, that 
“ it chooses for its nest a shelf of a rock, or the edge of 
a steep scar or bed of a hill torrent, and forms it of sticks, 
twigs, and heath, with a rude lining of wool and grass.” 

The eggs, which are three or four in number, vary 
according to the age of the bird, and are sometimes of a 
spotless white. Those from which the plate is drawn, 
are from the collection of Mr. Wolley, and were taken 
by himself in Sutherlandshire. An egg in Mr. Walter’s 
collection is beautifully coloured with different tints of 
purple and lilac. Mr. Wingate had the eggs brought to 
him from the same place for several successive years—no 
doubt the produce of the same bird. The first year they 
were white, or nearly so ; the second year slightly marked 
with indistinct yellowish-brown ; increasing each year in 
the intensity of their colouring till the spots became of 
a rich dark brown. 












ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD. 


39 


n a p ro res. 


FALCON I DAI. 


ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD. 

Buteo lagopus. 

PLATE XIV. FIG. III. 

It was not known till communicated through the pages 
of Mr.YarreH’s “ Birds,” that the Rough-legged Buzzard 
was more than a temporary visitor of this country. 

It is however there stated, upon the authority of Mr. 
Williamson of Scarborough, and I have pleasure in con¬ 
firming that statement, through the kindness of my friend, 
James Tuke, of York, who has visited the neighbourhood, 
and made personal inquiries on the subject, “ that it occa¬ 
sionally breeds in a precipitous dell near Hackness in 
Yorkshire, and that a marked female returned a second 
year with a new mate to her favourite haunt.” 

The Rough-legged Buzzard is an abundant species in 
some of the extensive forests of Germany. I noticed 
several, whilst travelling through some of the wilder parts 
of Baden and Wirtemberg, hunting over the vineyards 
and fields of Indian corn which border on the woody 
districts. It breeds, like the other allied species of hawks, 
in precipitous rocks and lofty trees, laying from three to 
five eggs, differing considerably in their colour; some 
specimens being nearly white, whilst others are darker and 
more blotched with colour than the one from which I have 
drawn my figure. They differ so little from eggs of the 
Common Buzzard, that no dependance can be placed 
upon those being genuine which pass through the hands 
of a dealer. 


40 


FALCONID7E. 


RAPTORES. 


FA LCON1DJE. 


HONEY BUZZARD. 

Pernis apivorus. 

PLATE XV. 

A much greater number of this species have of late 
been noticed as vistors of our island than had been for 
many previous years recorded. 

They have occurred during the last few years in various 
parts of England, and amongst several instances of their 
appearance in Northumberland, Mr. John Hancock has 
singularly obtained two fresh specimens, picked up dead 
upon the sea-shore. 

It seems, however, to have been more numerous many 
years ago. Willoughby mentions a pair which made use of 
an old nest of the kite to breed in, and further states that 
the Honey Buzzard builds its nest of twigs, lining it with 
wool; and White thus refers to one at Selborne : “ A 
pair of Honey Buzzards built there a large shallow nest, 
composed with twigs, and lined with dead beechen leaves, 
upon a tall slender beech near the middle of Selborne 
Hanger, in the summer of 1780. In the middle of the 
month of June, a bold boy climbed the tree and brought 
down the egg, the only one in the nest, which had been 
sat upon for some time, and contained the embryo of a 
young bird.” 

I must regard that ignorance as bliss which was pro¬ 
ductive to the ornithologist of the following interesting 
information; to myself of* a pleasant correspondence and 
a kind friend. I now copy from the pages of the “ Zoolo- 


XV 













HONEY BUZZARD. 


41 


gist” Mr. Wilmot’s own words, communicated in 1844. 
He says, “ A remark made by Mr. Hewitson in his beau¬ 
tiful work on the eggs of British birds, now in the course 
of publication, c that there is no recent instance of the 
Honey Buzzard having bred in this country,’ leads me 
to believe that the following statement may possess suffi¬ 
cient interest for insertion in the c Zoologist.’ 

“ Early in the month of July, 1838, a female Honey 
Buzzard was shot off her nest in Wellgrove-wood, in the 
parish of Bix, near Henley-on-Thames, by a gamekeeper 
of Lord Camoys, named Lowe. The bird, with two eggs 
taken from the nest, passed into the hands of a bird- 
stuffer at Henley, of the name of Hewer. I was then 
resident in the Temple, and being an eager collector of 
the eggs of British Birds, had engaged a young friend, 
Mr. Ralph Mapleton, then living at Henley, to secure for 
me any rare eggs that he might have an opportunity of 
obtaining. Mr. Mapleton communicated to me the above 
occurrence, and at my request purchased the eggs for me. 
The male bird, which continued to haunt the neighbour¬ 
hood of the nest, was not long after killed by another of 
Lord Camoys’ gamekeepers. The nest, a very large one, 
was placed in the fork of a beech tree, and was built of 
sticks of considerable size, with which were intermixed 
twigs with the leaves on. The lining was composed of 
leaves and wool. A great portion of the nest was, I am 
told, remaining in the tree a short time ago.” 

Mr. Wilmot, having ascertained that a pair of Honey 
Buzzards, male and female, had been sent to Birming¬ 
ham to be stuffed, and that they had been procured by Mr. 
Potts, Lord Leigh’s gamekeeper, learned from him that 
he had shot them from an unfinished nest in Waverley 
wood near Stoneleigh Park ; “ that it was built in an 
oak tree, rather a large one, near the middle of the wood, 


42 


FALCONIDiE. 


and rested on two large arms which grew out from the 
trunk, and was built with sticks, some of them as thick 
as his fingerand that his brother had u shot a Honey 
Buzzard off its nest in the same wood some ten years 
ago,” that nest also being built between three large arms 
just at the top of the trunk. Mr. Wilmot goes on to 
say, “ I had particularly asked whether boughs, or twigs 
with the leaves on, formed part of the materials with 
which the nest was constructed, in order to ascertain 
whether it resembled the nest near Henley in that pecu¬ 
liarity, if it should be so termed, for the presence of 
boughs with the leaves on merely proves that the Honey 
Buzzard, like the rook, does not use dead materials only 
in constructing its nest. Live boughs plucked at the 
season at which these nests were built, would necessarily 
be clothed with leaves. June seems to be the usual 
season of nidification in this country. White’s nest was 
robbed in the middle of June,- the nest at Stoneleigh 
was not completed when the birds were shot about the 
10th of June. The nest near Henley contained eggs 
in the early part of July, and the young birds men¬ 
tioned by Willoughby were fed with the nymphae of 
wasps, which would not be obtained before the end of 
July. And, as far as can be collected from the recorded 
instances, there seems to be reason for supposing that 
the number of eggs laid by the Honey Buzzard is below 
the number usually laid by birds of prey of correspond¬ 
ing size. In the instance mentioned by White, the 
single egg found in the nest contained the embryo of 
a young bird; the nest mentioned by Pennant, con¬ 
tained two eggs ; and the nest mentioned by Willoughby 
(I am availing myself of the information collected by 
Mr. \ arrell), contained two young birds. The nest near 
Henley contained two eggs only, and the state of the 


HONEY BUZZARD. 


43 


eggs indicated that the bird had accomplished full one 
half of her period of incubation, and had consequently 
laid her complement.” 

The eggs are two in number, and, judging from a 
considerable series, are not subject to much variety, and 
are coloured in a way which, though at once showing 
their relationship to others of the same family, is never¬ 
theless very peculiar, and characteristic of this species, 
and unlike those of any other bird. The colouring 
matter seems to have been profusely supplied, and is 
thickly spread over almost the entire surface of the egg. 

The first figure of the plate is from the English egg 
mentioned by Mr. YVilmot, and now in his collection. 
The other has been kindly lent me by Dr. Frere. 

An egg in the rich collection of Mr. Walter, is oblong 
in form, and so thickly smeared with brown, that no 
light ground-colour is visible. 


44 


FALCONIDiE. 


RAF TO RES, 


FALCONl DTE. 


MARSH HARRIER, or MOOR BUZZARD. 

Circus rufus. 

PLATE XVI. FIG. I. 

The naturalist may raise his protest against the wanton 
destruction of the objects of his admiration, as Mr. Wil- 
mot has done in the pages of the “ Zoologist,” and de¬ 
serve the thanks of his fellow men. But when a whole 
race of beautiful beings are becoming exterminated for 
the general good, when the dreary waste is becoming 
a fruitful field, and the bulrush is about to give place 
to the blade of wheat, he must grieve in silence. 

From the fens of Cambridge and the adjoining counties, 
a few years ago frequented by numbers of the three 
species of Harrier, they are now driven by the plough— 
and will probably, ere long, like one of our most beau¬ 
tiful British butterflies, once an inhabitant of the same 
district, become extinct in this country. Mr. Alfred 
Newton, of Elveden, tells me that a great many of the 
three Harriers used to breed in some of the fens of 
Norfolk, but that they have been driven away by the 
superior system of drainage—that “ the Moor Buzzard 
was the first to cease from breeding there, then the Hen 
Harrier, and, lastly, the ash-coloured species.” 

Montagu, in describing the eggs of the Marsh Harrier, 
says, that they are “ perfectly white, without spot;” La¬ 
tham, on the contrary, in his description of the eggs of 
the same species, that they are “ spotted with brown.” 










MARSH HARRIER. 


45 


These assertions, when applied to the particular eggs 
which each of the parties may themselves have seen, are 
no doubt perfectly correct. Mr. Selby, however, con¬ 
tradicts the statement in the u Index Ornithologicus” of 
Latham, and says, that they are “white, and not spotted.” 

With the descriptions of Montagu and Latham, taking 
them to refer, as I have done, to particular specimens of 
the eggs of the same species, I have no difficulty in 
agreeing, and regret that 1 cannot do so with that of 
Mr. Selby also. The eggs of the Marsh Harrier, although 
for the most part white, or slightly tinted with blue, are 
sometimes also spotted and smeared with brown, in the 
same manner as those of the hen harrier. 

This species and the common buzzard approximate 
most beautifully as far as relates to their mode of breed¬ 
ing, and form the connecting link between the genera 
Buteo and Circus . The common buzzard, as I have 
before shown, breeds in trees; its eggs are usually spotted, 
sometimes quite white. The eggs of the Marsh Harrier 
are most commonly white, but sometimes spotted; it 
almost always breeds on the ground, but will sometimes, 
assuming the habits of the common buzzard, breed in 
the fork of a large tree, in which place Montagu says he 
has himself found it; in such a situation the nest would, 
as he describes it, be formed of sticks and such like 
materials. In the fen-countries, its usual resort, the nest 
is composed of so large a quantity of flags, reeds, and 
sedges, as to raise it a foot, or a foot and a half above 
the ground. The eggs are usually four, sometimes, though 
not often, five in number; the time of incubation early 
in May. 

All the eggs of the Marsh Harrier which I have seen, 
upon the identity of which reliance could be placed, 
are considerably less than those of the common buzzard; 


46 


FALCONIDiE. 


X. 


\ 


V 


and many of the eggs which stand in collections as 
those of the Marsh Harrier, would, I think, more pro¬ 
perly bear the name of the other species. It is from 
one of these that Mr. Yarrell has written his description, 
when he gives the dimensions as “ two inches one line 
in length, and one inch six lines in breadth.” The eggs 
of the three species of Harrier may be readily known 
from those of nearly-allied species, by the clear greenish- 
bine of the inside, which may be seen upon holding 
them to the light. 


HEN HARRIER. 


47 


It A PTORES. 


FALCON IDJE 


HEN HARRIER. 

Circus cyaneus. 

PLATE XVI. FIG. II. 

The Hen Harrier breeds chiefly in the marshy dis¬ 
tricts of this country, and was once common in the fens 
of Cambridgeshire: when in such low lands, the nest 
is placed upon the ground, and is formed of so large 
a quantity of flags, sedge, and reeds, as to raise it eighteen 
inches or two feet above the surface, and thus to protect 
the eggs and young ones from the water by which the 
low grounds are often flooded. A correspondent tells 
me that he has known the nest raised in this manner 
nearly four feet from the foundation. 

I copy an interesting account of this species by Sir 
William Jardine, in his edition of “Wilson’s Ornitho¬ 
logy;” speaking of the Hen Harrier, he says, “ The habits 
of those in Great Britain differ considerably according to 
the district they inhabit. In a country possessing a 
considerable proportion of plain and mountain, where 
I have had the greatest opportunities of attending to 
them, they always retire at the commencement of the 
breeding season to the wildest hills, and during this time 
not one individual will be found in the low country. For 
several days previous to commencing their nest, the male 

and female are seen soaring about, as if in search of, 

\ 

or examining, a proper situation; are very noisy, and toy 
and cuff each other in the air. When the place is fixed 


48 


FALCONIDJE. 


and the nest completed, the female is left alone, and, 
when hatching, will not allow the male bird to visit the 
nest, but, on his approach, rises and drives him with 
screams to a distance. The nest is made very frequently 
in a heath-bush by the edge of some ravine, and is 
composed of sticks with a very slender lining; it is some¬ 
times also formed in one of those places called scars, 
or where there has been a rush on the side of a steep 
hill after a mountain thunder shower : here little or no 
nest is made, and the eggs are merely laid on the bare 
ground, which has been scraped hollow. In a flat or 
level country, some common is generally chosen, and 
the nest is found in a whin or other scrubby bush, some¬ 
times a little way from the ground.” 

The eggs are four or five in number, and though perhaps 
most frequently of a spotless bluish-white, are yet often 
slightly marked with yellowish-brown, mixed with a pur¬ 
plish hue, and in some specimens, with more distinctly- 
defined spots of light brown. To Mr. Hey sham I am 
indebted for specimens from the neighbourhood of Car¬ 
lisle ; and to the Rev. W. D. Fox, for others from the 
fens of Cambridge. 


49 


Montagu’s harrier. 


RAPTORES. 


FALCON T DAL 


MONTAGU’S HARRIER. 

Circus cineraceus. 

PLATE XVI. FIG. III. 

For authentic, and, therefore, valuable specimens of 
the eggs of this species, I am indebted to my friend the 
Rev. W. D. Fox. These were procured for him by Mr. 
David Baker of Melbourne, who has an accurate know¬ 
ledge of the birds of the fen-countries, which he stuffs 
for sale; and that there might be no doubt of their 
identity, the old birds were trapped upon the nest. 

Montagu’s Harrier breeds in the fens of Cambridge¬ 
shire, and though at one time more abundant than has 
been supposed, is now becoming extinct, and exceedingly 
difficult to procure. The nest, which is placed upon the 
ground, is more slight than those of the other two har¬ 
riers, and is composed, like them, of flags, sedge and 
rushes. The eggs are usually four or five in number; 
the nest, from which the specimens sent me by Mr. 
Fox were taken, contained six, the only instance of the 
kind which Mr. Baker has ever met with ; they are of 
a clear white, distinctly tinted with light blue, and are 
never, to the best of my information, spotted. Like the 
last species, the time of incubation is early in May. 

Mr. Alfred Newton informs me that the Harriers, like 
the owls, the eagles, and probably all The hawk tribe, 
begin to sit upon the first egg, and as there is also most 
likely an interval of some days between the production 
of each egg, the young are of very different ages, and 
much more easily supplied with food. 


E 


50 


STRIGID7E. 


RA P TO RES, 


STRIGID/E. 


EAGLE OWL. 

Bubo maximus. 

PLATE XVII. FIG. IV. 

There is a strong and perfect similarity amongst the 
eggs of the different species of owls, which we could 
scarcely expect to find in the eggs of birds which differ 
from each other so much in their mode of breeding. The 
eggs of those species which are deposited in the hollows 
of old trees and deserted ruins, and those which are 
found on the bare sod, and exposed to the broad light of 
day and the pelting storm, are alike without colour. The 
Eagle Owl breeds in the north of Europe, making its 
nest upon the bleak and unsheltered summit of some 
lofty mountain. In such situations Linnaeus found their 
nests and young ones. In his journal for the 17th of 
May he says, “ At a quarter of a mile from the post- 
house (at Dingersjo) stands the highest mountain in Me- 
delpad, called Norby Knylen, and being desirous of 
examining it more minutely I travelled to Norby. After 
much difficulty and fatigue we reached the summit of 
the mountain to the westward. We endeavoured to de¬ 
scend at the south side, which was the steepest, and 
where rocks were piled on rocks. We were often obliged 
to sit down, and in that position to slide for a consider¬ 
able way. About the middle of this side of the moun¬ 
tain an Eagle Owl started up suddenly before us. Imme¬ 
diately afterwards we perceived a little plot of grass 
fronting the south, and guarded, as it were, by rocky 
walls on the east and west, so that no wind but the south 
could reach it. Here were three young birds and an egg. 


EAGLE OWL. 


51 


Of these birds one was as large as two fists, the other 
two were but half as large.” 

On the 16th of June he found another nest near Old 
Pithoea, on a steep hill called Brevikberget, and a pair 
of Eagle Owls, almost full grown but not able to fly. 
It was not, however, our good luck to be alike suc¬ 
cessful, although we traversed in search of them the pine- 
crested mountain ridges, the rocky steeps, and the snow- 
clad heights of the neighbouring country. In one in¬ 
stance only we had the gratification of seeing one of 
these noble birds at large, as it topped the heathery 
summit of the hill which we were climbing, and was lost 
to our anxious gaze. 

Mr. Wolley, whose ardent love for natural history has 
led him to follow in the footsteps of Linnaeus, and to 
explore the wilds of the north of Sweden, has been more 
successful than we were, as the following very interesting 
and graphic account will show. It is written from Hapa- 
randa. 

He expresses the great difficulty, which we also fully 
experienced in Norway, of “ hunting up the ornithological 
population of such a country,” where the birds are few, 
and the area over which they are scattered vast and 
almost inaccessible; he writes, “ First I was determined 
to find a nest of Strix bubo; many expeditions of some 
miles, and several days lost, have resulted in the finding 
of a single nest with two young ones and an egg just 
hatching, and this after inquiries at every place I have 
been to. It was on the 20th of May, and after climbing 
to the mysterious cave of Skulberg, that our road lay 
under a steep mountain-side broken up into crags and 
ledges of the character which is usually so attractive to 
birds of prey. There was a little village at the foot, and 
an old man pointed out the direction from which the 


52 


STRIGIDiE. 


bootings were to be heard every evening. Whilst I was 
listening to the consultation, and taking a survey with 
my glass, an osprey flew along the edge of the cliff, and 
at a great height above us, and mellowed in the distance 
there came a full note from a Berg-ufo who no doubt 
had seen the stranger bird. This was very encouraging, 
and it did not take long to arrange the order in which 
the various likely rocks were to be visited. An active 
woodman accompanied me axe in hand. When we were 
fairly in the cliffs we came to a point where some large 
bird was in the habit of sitting to tear its prey, and fea¬ 
thers, and white feet of hares were lying about. A great 
owl flew below us, showing a beautiful expanse of back 
and wings, and as we proceeded in the direction from 
which it came another large owl rose from the face of the 
cliff, flew a hundred paces forward, turned its wide face 
towards us, and came a short distance back. I stopped 
to examine it with my glass to be quite certain it was S. 
bubo. Satisfied on this point, we only had to walk a few 
paces along a ledge before the family group was in sight: 
two blind little puffs covered with down just tinged 
with yellow, and an egg with the prisoner inside uttering 
his series of four or five chirps through the window he 
had made in the shell, with a voice scarcely more feeble 
than that of his elder brothers. There did not seem to 
be much difference in the ages of the three ; they were 
lying upon a small quantity of compressed fur, principally 
of rats, the remains of the castings of the parent birds, 
their bed nearly flat, for there was not more than two 
inches of soil. Uva-ursi and several other plants grew 
near, and a small Scotch fir-tree had its trunk curiously 
flattened to the perpendicular rock at the back ; the ledge 
was not more than two feet wide, and terminated abruptly 
just beyond the nest; the rock beneath was also perpen- 


EAGLE OWL. 


5o 

dicular. A party of village ladies watching us from below 
were very successful in imitating the owls, but the owls 
themselves would not answer. We waited at the nest a 
long time in the hope that they would show themselves: 
but it was not till we had left it that we saw them again 
sitting on the topmost shoots of spruce firs with their 
ears finely relieved against the sky, and as we were nearly 
in the village again they hooted with a troubled note. 
I have visited three other sites of nests of this bird, and 
they were all of similar character upon ledges in or over 
cliffs. They were all unsheltered overhead. Sunshine 
seems to be rather courted than avoided. This season 
is a week or fortnight later than usual.” 

Mr. J. H. Gurney has thrice recorded in the “ Zoolo¬ 
gist” the interesting fact that a pair of Eagle Owls, the 
property of Mr. Fountaine, have for three successive 
years laid their eggs and reared their young ones in 
confinement. The eggs were in every instance three in 
number; and as Mr. Gurney remarks, “ it may be safely 
assumed to be the normal number of eggs produced by 
this species,” especially since the nest found by Mr. 
Wolley confirms the assumption. One of the nests found 
by Linnaeus contained three young ones and a rotten 
egg. The first egg of the first year “ was observed on 
the 13th of April, and the two others about a week after¬ 
wards ; two young ones were found to be hatched on the 
19tli, and the other on the 22nd of May.” How very 
nearly this corresponds with Mr. Wolley’s discovery; two 
of his young ones were newly hatched when he found 
them on the 20th of May. The first egg of the two 
following years mentioned by Mr. Gurney, was laid so 
early as the 10th of March. The period of incubation, 
reckoning from the laying of the first egg to the hatching 
of the first young one, was in each case thirty-six days. 


54 


STRIGIDiE. 


RAPTORES. 


STRIGIDJE. 


SCOPS-EAIIED OWL. 

Scops aldrovandi. 

PLATE XIX. FIG. I. 

This very minute and beautiful species of owl has 
been excluded by Mr. Gould from the list of our British 
birds, although there are several undoubted instances of 
its having been captured in this country. It has even 
been said to breed in the county of Durham, in Castle 
Eden dean, but upon quite insufficient authority. On 
the Continent, in some parts of France and Italy, it is 
not uncommon, and lays its eggs, which are four or five 
in number, in the holes of trees. 


XIX 













LONG-EARED OWL, 


55 


RA pro RES. 


SPRIG I DA'. 


LONG-EARED OWL. 

Otus vulgaris. 

PLATE XVII. FIG. III. 

The Long-eared Owl is to be met with in most of 
our woody districts, especially those which are composed 
of fir-trees. I was favoured, during the progress of my 
former work, with some notes of this species by Mr. J. 
H. Tuke, but as he has since given a more detailed ac¬ 
count in the “ Zoologist,” I prefer to copy it; he says,— 
“ This handsome species is rather generally distributed 
through the fir woods within six or seven miles around 
York, taking possession about the middle or end of 
March of the deserted nest of the crow, ringdove, and 
perhaps that of the squirrel, in a Scotch or spruce fir- 
tree, on which, after flattening and sometimes lining with 
a few feathers, are deposited its two or three beautifully 
white eggs. Out of six or seven instances we have 
never met with more than three eggs or young ones, and 
in most cases only two. It is curious to observe how 
flat they invariably make their nests, so much so, that 
in even a slight wind it is difficult to conceive how the 
eggs retain their position when the parent bird leaves 
them. 

“ This species does not seem to confine its flight en¬ 
tirely to the darker hours, nor its taste very strictly to 
the mouse tribe, as we have met them in the woods sail¬ 
ing quietly along as if hawking, on a bright sunny day, 


56 


STRIGID7E. 


and invariably found in or around the nest, feathers 
and other remains of the winged race; in one case a 
freshly-killed chaffinch, in another the wing of a snipe, 
and several smaller birds, and in a pellet the indigestible 
pad of a young hare or rabbit. 

“ A nest which I examined this day, April 11th, con¬ 
tained three eggs, which were laid on what appeared 
to have been the drey of the squirrel in a tall spruce-fir; 
this nest was lined with a few feathers, and only disco¬ 
vered on the 31st of March, and had then the same 
number of eggs. I hope to ascertain, when the young 
ones are hatched, whether, as is I believe generally the 
case with this tribe, the parent bird had commenced in¬ 
cubation when the first egg was laid.” 

Mr. Tuke thinks that in some of the nests mentioned 
there could not be less than eight or ten days’ difference 
in the age of the young ones, so that some days must 
intervene between the production of each egg, the female 
beginning to sit as soon as the first eggs are laid,—a pro¬ 
vision which would enable the old birds the more readily 
to supply the demands of their voracious progeny. 

Mr. Alfred Newton, writing from Elveden Hall, in 
Norfolk, says,—“ The Long-eared is the most plentiful 
species of owl hereabout, and there are few plantations 
of any size which do not contain a pair, as far as my 
own experience goes, though it is opposed to Messrs. 
Tuke’s opinion, quoted in your former edition. I should 
say that the usual number of eggs laid by this owl is 
four; this year the gamekeeper has found a nest with 
five eggs, and my brother has seen six young ones in the 
same nest. The Long-eared Owl usually adapts a squir¬ 
rel’s nest, called hereabouts a drail, to its own purposes. 
It appears to feed much on small birds. I have found 
wheat-ears, willow-wrens, and chaffinches, or at least their 


LONG-EARED OWL. 


57 


remains, in its nest as often as not. I think it delays the 
act of incubation until its clutch of eggs is completed.” 

Wilson says, “ About six or seven miles below Phila¬ 
delphia, and not far from the Delaware, is a low swamp 
thickly covered with trees, and inundated great part of 
the year. This place is the resort of great numbers of 
the qua-bird, or night-raven (Ardea Nycticorax), where 
they build in large companies. On the 25th of April, 
while wading among the dark recesses of this place ob¬ 
serving the habits of these birds, I discovered a Long¬ 
eared Owl which had taken possession of one of their 
nests, and was sitting. On mounting to the nest I found 
it contained four eggs, and breaking one of these the 
young appeared almost ready to leave the shell. There 
were numbers of the qua-birds 1 nests on the adjoining 
trees all around, and one of them actually on the same 
tree.” 


58 


STRIGIDiE. 


RAPTORES. 


STRIGIDjE. 


SHORT EARED OWL. 

Otus brachyotos. 

PLATE XVII. FIG. II. 

The Short-eared Owl, departing from the habits of 
the rest of the genus, rears its young ones on the ground; 
it forms, also, in its mode of breeding, as it does in its 
flight and general appearance, one of the connecting 
links between the Falconidae and the owls. Although 
they for the most part go further north to breed, a few 
of them remain upon the moors of Northumberland, 
where Mr. Charlton of Hesleyside informs me he has 
frequently found their eggs amongst the heath in his own 
neighbourhood. Mr. R. R. Wingate has also met with 
the young ones on the same moors before they were able 
to fly. 

The Rev. George Low, in his Fauna Orcadensis, says 
that in his time this owl was very frequent on the hill of 
Hoy, where it built its nest amongst the heath, and was 
so impudent during the breeding-season as to take up 
chickens from the door, and chase pigeons in daylight. 
In a nest which he found were the remains of a moor- 
fowl and two plovers ; it was placed in a large heath-bush, 
was made without any art, and intolerably foetid. 

The following notes relating to this species are from 
Sir William Jardine’s edition of “ Wilson’s Ornithology.” 

“ In England it bears the name of Woodcock Owl, 
from its appearance nearly about the same time with that 


SHORT*EARED OWL. 


59 


bird, and re-appearance again in the spring; very few, 
if any, remain during the whole season, and they are 
only met with in their migrations to and from the north, 
their breeding places, similar to the appearance, for a few 
days, of the ringouzels and dotterels ; in spring singly 
or in pairs, and in the fall in small groups, the amount 
of their broods when again retiring. 

“ It is only in the north of England, and over Scotland, 
that they will rank as summer visitants. Hoy and the 
other Hebrides where they were first discovered to breed, 
were considered the southern limit of their incubation. 
It extends, however, much farther, and may be, perhaps, 
stated as the extensive muirland ranges of Cumberland, 
Westmoreland, and Northumberland. Over all the Scot¬ 
tish muirs it occurs in considerable abundance ; there 
are few sportsmen who are unacquainted with it; many 
are killed during the grouse season, and those individuals 
which Mr. Selby mentions as found on upland moors I 
have no doubt bred there. 

“ On the extensive moors at the Head of Dryfe, a 
small rivulet in Dumfriesshire, I have formally years past 
met with one or two pairs of these birds, and the acci¬ 
dental discovery of their young first turned my attention 
to the range of their breeding; for previous to this, I 
also held the opinion that they had commenced their 
migration southward. The young was discovered by one 
of my dogs pointing it, and in the following year, by 
searching at the proper season, two nests were found 
with five eggs. They were found upon the ground among 
the heath, the bottom of the nest scraped until the fresh 
earth appeared, on which the eggs were placed, without 
any lining or other accessory covering. When approach¬ 
ing the nest or young, the old birds fly and hover round, 
uttering a shrill cry, and snapping with their bills; they 


60 


STUIGIDiE. 


will then alight at a short distance, survey the aggressor, 
and again resume their flight and cries. The young are 
barely able to fly by the 12th of August, and appear to 
leave the nest some time before they are able to rise 
from the ground. I have taken them, on that great day 
to sportsmen, squatted on the heath like young black 
game, at no great distance from each other, and always 
attended by the parent birds. Last year (1831) I found 
them in their old haunts, to which they appear to return 
very regularly.” 

Mr. Hoy, in a communication in “ Loudon’s Magazine,” 
says, “ I am acquainted with two localities in the south¬ 
western part of Norfolk, where pairs of this bird breed, 
and I have known several instances of their eggs and 
young being found. One situation is on a dry heathy 
soil, the nest placed on the ground amongst high heath, 
the other in low fenny ground, among sedge and rushes.” 

Mr. Alfred Newton tells me that this species used to 
breed yearly in the fens of West Norfolk; he says ,—“ l 
have also heard of nests in the uplands, and though I 
doubt not that it still breeds occasionally in places which 
are sufficiently rough with sedge or heather, yet I have 
not heard of a nest within the last few years in this 
neighbourhood.” 

These observations have a twofold interest, and show 
that this species does not confine itself in England to 
the north, or its breeding place to the highland heathery 
moors. 














WHITE OWL. 


61 


FtAPTORES. 


STRIG1DAE . 


WHITE OWL, BARN, or SCREECH-OWL. 

Strix flammea. 

PLATE XVir. FIG. I. 

Although the White Owl breeds with others of the 
tribe early in the season, it seems in some cases to pro¬ 
long the pleasures of incubation to a much longer period 
than is enjoyed by other birds. Mr. Blyth mentions a 
very curious instance of this. “ A nest of the barn owl 
last summer in this neighbourhood (Tooting) contained 
two eggs, and when these were hatched two more were 
laid, which latter were probably hatched by the warmth 
of the young birds. A third laying took place after the 
latter were hatched, and the nest at last contained six 
young owls of three different ages, which were all 
reared.” 

This confirms the supposition which I ventured when 
speaking of the long-eared owl, that the owls do not 
deposit their eggs as other birds for the most part do, in 
regular daily succession. 

This owl breeds in old ruins, under the eaves and in 
the steeples of churches — and may be found in York 
Minster—in deserted dove-cotes, in barns, and also in 
the holes of trees, and lays from three to five eggs. A 
nest which the Messrs. Tuke found near York contained 
six eggs; and it is rather curious that a nest and eggs 
of the starling were in the same tree close below it. The 


62 


STRIGIDiE. 


White Owl probably lives chiefly upon mice, but is known 
also to destroy small birds. 

The long-eared owl will destroy birds as large as the 
blackbird ; how, then, can we account for the immunity 
of the starling ? 

From what information we have on the subject, it ap¬ 
pears that the different species of owls, and sometimes 
the same species, evince very great irregularity in their 
time of breeding, the date varying from the laying of the 
first egg on the 10th of March by the eagle owl, to the 
production of the young of the snowy and short-eared 
owls in the month of August. 


TAWNY OWL. 


63 


RAPTORES. 


STRIGTDJE. 


TAWNY OWL, WOOD OWL. 

Syrnium stridula. 

PLATE XVIII. FIG. II. 

The Tawny Owl usually lays its eggs in a hollow 
tree, sometimes in the holes of rocks, and occasionally in 
the deserted nest of some other bird; they are round, 
large, bright, and glossy, from three to five in number, 
and are deposited at irregular intervals, the first being sat 
upon as soon as laid; the young of the same nest differ 
in consequence very considerably in their size. 

This is the owl from which issues forth that loud melan¬ 
choly sound at night, which, however much it may be 
associated with goblins in the minds of others, is ex¬ 
tremely agreeable to the ear that is fond of nature’s syl¬ 
van sounds. 

Mr. Alfred Newton says, “a pair which annually breed 
near this house do not always begin the work of incuba¬ 
tion until they have laid their complement of four eggs, 
but I have never been able to account for their habits 
being irregular in this particular.” 


G4 


STRIGIDiE. 


RAPTORES. 


STRIGIDJE. 


SNOWY OWL. 

SURNIA NYCTEA. 

PLATE XVIII. FIG. III. 

The Snowy Owl which, it is supposed, used to breed 
ou some of the Shetland Islands, is now a very 
rare visitor to any part of Britain. It is said to breed 
on various parts of the European Continent, and has 
been met with in most of those countries washed by the 
icy seas. The egg, from which I have made my drawing, 
is in the collection of Mr. Wilmot and was brought from 
Labrador. 

Mr. Macgillivray quotes a letter from Dr. Edmondston 
relative to this species, in which he says, 66 I have always 
doubted whether it bred here. Presumptions were in 
favour of the affirmative, but actual proof was wanting. 
I have been lately informed that its nest was found two 
years ago, in August, in a low rocky ledge not far from 
here. The young, three in number, fully fledged, were 
of a brown colour sprinkled with gray.” This letter was 
written from Dr. Edmonston’s residence at Balta Sound, 
in Unst, the most northerly of the Shetland Islands. 

Other eggs in the collection of Mr. Walter which were 
laid in confinement are considerably larger. I am glad 
to find that all the owls’ eggs which I have drawn corre¬ 
spond in size with those figured by Thienemann. 

































HAWK OWL, 


C>5 


RAPTORES. 


STRIGIDJE. 


HAWK OWL. 

SURNIA FUNEREA. 

PLATE XVIII. FIG. I. 

Mr. Yarrell has figured this species as a British 
bird, one having been captured on board ship off the 
coast of Cornwall; he makes the following remarks, of 
which I avail myself. “ When we consider that this bird 
is an inhabitant of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and other 
parts of the north of Europe, that it is not unfrequently 
seen in Germany, and even in France, it is a matter of 
surprise that it should not have been taken in this coun¬ 
try before.” 

The Hawk Owl is said to build its nest in trees, and 
to lay two eggs; for the one now figured I am indebted 
to the kindness of Mr. Walter; it agrees in size with the 
one figured by Thienemann. 


66 


STRTGID2E, 


RA P TO RES. 


STRIGID M, 


TENGMALM’S OWL. 

Noctua Tengmalmi. 

TLATE XIX. FIG. II. 

We have no satisfactory information with regard to the 
habits of this little owl during the breeding-season. 

It is common throughout the northern countries of 
Europe, inhabiting thick and extensive pine forests. In 
North America it has, according to Dr. Richardson, a 
wide range, embracing all the woody country from the 
Great Slave Lake to the United States. It most probably 
breeds, like the preceding species, in the holes of trees. 


LITTLE OWL. 


(57 


RAPTORES. 


STRIGID/E. 


LITTLE OWL. 

Noctua nudipes (Nilsson). 

PLATE XIX. FIG. III. 

So little is known regarding the habits of the three 
species of small owls, which are only periodical and rare 
visitors to our shores, that I feel much indebted to the 
late Mr. Hoy for the following information regarding the 
present species, as well as for specimens of its eggs. 

The Little Owl is, like the rest of the family, an early 
breeder. It not unfrequently makes its nest in the holes 
of trees; old ruins, however, and the towers of churches 
are its favourite resort. It appears to be of a quarrel¬ 
some disposition, two pairs being rarely met with as near 
neighbours during the breeding-season. 

The eggs are usually four, sometimes five in number, 
and vary a little in size as well as contour. 

«r 

The Little Owl makes no nest, although an accumula¬ 
tion of rubbish arising from its castings may be frequently 
found in the hole, which is often made use of for a long¬ 
time previous to incubation. 

In addition to the several instances ojL its appearance 
in this country, enumerated by Mr. Yarrell, I may add, 
on the authority of Mr. J. J. Briggs, of Melbourn, Derby¬ 
shire, that a specimen of the Little Owl was taken in that 
county, and exhibited alive during the last spring. 

Mr. Gurney makes the following announcement in the 
“ Zoologist.” “ A pair of passerine owls which I had in 


68 


STRIGIDiE. 


confinement nested this spring in a small covered box, 
which was placed in a corner of their cage. They laid 
four eggs about the middle of the month of May, two of 
which they soon broke, but hatched the other two early 
in June. The two young ones did not long survive: how 
they disappeared I am unable to say, and am almost dis¬ 
posed to think the old birds must have devoured them. 
I regret, owing to the nest being placed in a covered box, 
I was unable correctly to ascertain the period of incu¬ 
bation.” 

I believe with Mr. Gould that this is not the Strix 
passerina of Linnaeus, and have therefore followed him in 
adopting Nilsson’s name of nudipes. 









3 

/ 


4 - 


















GREAT GREY SHRIKE. 


69 


INC ESSO RES. 
DENTIROSTRES. 


LAN IA DjE. 


GREAT GREY SHRIKE. 

Lanius excubitor. 

PLATE XX. KIG. I. 

The eggs of the three British species of Shrike form a 
very beautiful and isolated group, as different from those 
of other birds as they are like each other. 

Like our well known species the red-backed shrike, 
this bird makes its nest in thick bushes and high hedges; 
it is large, and composed of the stalks of umbelliferous 
plants, roots, moss, and wool, lined with finer roots and 
dry grass. The eggs are four or five, and it is said some¬ 
times six or seven in number; though differing a good 
deal in the frequency of the spots, they still preserve 
more or less the constant characteristic zone. In colour 
they are more sombre than those of the succeeding spe¬ 
cies ; and none of the specimens I have seen are orna¬ 
mented with any of their rich variety of tints. 


70 


LANIADiE. 


1 N CESS O RES. 
DENTIROSTRES. 


LAN I A DM. 


RED-BACKED SHRIKE, BUTCHER BIRD. 

Lanius collurio. 

PLATE XX. FIGS. III. AND IV. 

The nest of the Red-backed Shrike is built in a thick 
thorn-hedge, or single bush; one which I have observed 
during the past summer was in a thorn-tree, at an eleva¬ 
tion of ten or twelve feet; it is unusually large, and is 
composed of a quantity of coarse materials; the outside 
is formed of the stalks of umbelliferous plants, succeeded 
by moss and fine grass, with a small portion of wool, and 
is lined with slender roots, interspersed with a few hairs. 
The eggs are four or five in number, and are amongst 
the most beautiful of those of our British birds. Figure 
four of the plate represents the usual colouring, in which 
variety they closely resemble those of the other two spe¬ 
cies ; the other figure is from an egg which I took at 
school, and have never since seen equalled. The zone 
of spots is sometimes at the narrow end of the egg. 

Doubts have been expressed whether or not the Red- 
backed Shrike has deserved the name of Lanius, or 
butcher, which has been bestowed upon it. 

I have pleasure in giving my testimony as to its well 
merited possession of the title. Whilst riding through 
one of the well-fenced lanes of Suffolk I observed one 
of these birds, a male, conspicuous from its bright 
plumage, busily engaged with something in the hedge, 


RED-BACKED SHRIKE. 


71 


from which it seemed very reluctant to be driven by my 
approach. On examining the spot I found, very much 
to my satisfaction, a small bird, of what species 1 did 
not at the time note, so firmly spitted on a blunt thorn 
that it must have required considerable force to fix it 
there; it was in a state of perfect nudity, every feather 
had been plucked from it, and its head torn off. 


72 


LANIADiE. 


INOESSORES. 
DEN TIROSTRES. 


LANIADJE. 


WOODCHAT SHRIKE. 

LANIUS RUFUS. 

PLATE XX. FIG. II. 

Naturalists, especially those who take an interest in 
that portion of Ornithology which the present pages are 
intended to illustrate, have lost a most ardent and suc¬ 
cessful coadjutor by the death of Mr. Hoy; I have 
greatly to regret his loss, for had he been yet living I 
should have been enabled, as will be seen from the fre¬ 
quent quotations from his information in my former work, 
to have given much more that would have been new and 
interesting during the progress of the present. 

He says of the Woodchat, that “it differs from Lanius 
collurio in the choice of a situation for its nest, placing 
it invariably on trees, and preferring the oak. The nest 
is fixed in the fork of a projecting branch, and is com¬ 
posed on the outside of sticks and wool, mixed with 
white moss from the bodies of the trees, and lined with 
fine grass and wool. Eggs, four or five in number, 
rather smaller than those of the red-backed shrike, and 
varying much in markings, the ground colour being 
pale blue in some, in others a dirty white, surrounded 
near the larger end with a zone of rust-coloured spots ; 
in some again the markings and spots are of a paler 
colour, and more dispersed over the egg. It is not a 
wild bird, building close to houses and public roads. It 
is abundant in some parts of the Netherlands, and 


WOODCHAT SHRIKE. 7o 

arrives and departs about the same time as the Lanins 
collurio.” 

It is one of the very few birds which greet the eye of 
the traveller as he passes through the German States. I 
remember to have seen several during a ride through 
Wirtemburg, and the Duchy of Baden, amongst the fruit- 
trees which mark the line of road. 

It will be seen that the egg from which the drawing is 
made, is rather larger than those of the L. collurio, but 
they differ a good deal in size as well as colour. 

I have a remarkable variety from the collection of the 
Messrs. Tuke; the spots, which are large and deep in 
colour, of brown and neutral tint, are scattered equally 
over the whole surface, and like the figure of the plate, 
depart somewhat from the generic character. 


74 


MUSCICAPIDiE. 


INC ESSO RES. MUSCICAPIDM. 

EENTIROSTRES. 

SPOTTED FLYCATCHER. 

Muscicapa grisola. 

PLATE XXI. FIG. I. 

The Spotted Flycatcher makes its nest about the 
beginning of June; it is built in the hole of a wall, or 
of a decayed tree stump, on the low branches and 
amongst the exposed roots of trees which overhang a 
stream of water, and upon the boughs of wall fruit-trees; 
these are its most usual and natural places of resort, but 
there is scarcely any place so whimsical as not to be 
chosen by it for the position of its nest; it has been twice 
detected breeding on the lamp-posts in the crowded 
streets; one of these instances is mentioned by Mr. Jesse, 
in his “Gleanings of Natural History.” 

The nest is formed of small twigs, roots, and moss, in¬ 
terwoven with spiders’ webs, and is lined with hair and 
feathers. 

The eggs are four or five in number, and are not sub¬ 
ject to much variety in colour; in form they are some¬ 
times longer and more pointed than the plate. 

I have stated that the genera of our British birds might, 
with a few exceptions, be determined by the colouring of 
their eggs alone, and have mentioned among those ex¬ 
ceptions the eggs of our two flycatchers, which usually 
differ as much from each other as they do from those of 
the most remote species. It was, therefore, with very 
peculiar interest that I have since seen eggs of the 
Spotted Flycatcher of a clear spotless blue in the col¬ 
lections of Mr. Wilmot and of Mr. Salmon. 


XXI 





















FIED FLYCATCHER. 


75 


INCESSORES. 

DENTIROSTRES. 


MUSCICAPIDJE. 


PIED FLYCATCHER. 

Muscicapa atricapilla. 

PLATE XXI. FIG. II. 

Although a few stragglers have been met with in vari¬ 
ous parts of England (Bewick mentions a nest which was 
found in Axwell Park, near Newcastle-upon-Tyne; and 
Bolton found some in the West Riding of Yorkshire), 
Westmoreland and Cumberland are the favourite resorts of 
this species, and especially that portion of those counties 
which forms the choicest of England’s scenery, the lake 
district. Here, also, it is quite local, and though I have 
seen it in plenty in the woods which form the beautiful 
banks of the rivers Eamont and Lowther, and upon the 
Eden at Eden-hall, yet during a walk through the lake 
district it never appeared again, except upon the borders 
of Ullswater. Mr. Heppenstall, a correspondent of the 
“ Zoologist,” states “ that it is rather plentiful in Wharn- 
cliffe Wood, not far from Sheffield, that it is exceedingly 
local, only being found in a space of fifty or sixty acres of 
venerable oak-trees near some fish-ponds.” 

Mr. Blackwall has recorded a very interesting instance 
in which a pair of Pied Flycatchers, imitating the more 
familiar habits of the other species, took up their resi¬ 
dence, and “ for a long series of years incubated their eggs, 
and nurtured their young in security, in a small aperture 
close by the portico to the principal entrance of” his 
father’s residence in Denbighshire, “ undisturbed appa- 


76 


MUSCICAPID^:. 


rently by the frequent passing and repassing of its in¬ 
mates,” until they were driven out by a swarm of bees, 
which took possession of the hole. 

To a friend and schoolfellow, Mr. John Gibson, who 
resided at Tyrril, near Penrith, and for some years ob¬ 
served the habits of this bird, 1 am indebted for the fol¬ 
lowing information, accompanied with the nests and eggs. 

The Pied Flycatcher builds its nest about the end of 
May, or beginning of June, in the holes of trees, walls, 
and bridges, and appears particularly partial to the neigh¬ 
bourhood of a stream of water. The hole chosen is 
generally too small to admit the hand, and the nest rarely 
at the depth of more than four or five inches; it is slight, 
and composed of small quantities of dried grass and straws, 
lined with very fine grass and hairs, with occasionally a 
few dead leaves. It usually lays from four to six eggs, 
but Mr. Heysham, who meets with them near Carlisle, 
and has published some interesting papers relative to 
their nidification, &c., informs me that the Pied Fly¬ 
catcher frequently lays seven or eight eggs, several in¬ 
stances of each having come under his observation during 
the spring of 1831, that the eggs also differ considerably 
in size and conformation, those contained in one nest 
that he took being unusually small, nearly oval, and al¬ 
most white; he has found the nest two successive years 
in the stump of a felled tree. 



xxn 












COMMON DIPPER. 


77 


IIVC ESSO R ES. 
DENTIROSTRES. 


MERULTD/E. 


COMMON DIPPER, WATER OUZEL. 

# 

ClNCLUS AQUATICUS. 

PLATE XXII. 

In its nidification, as well as its general appearance, 
the Water Ouzel closely resembles our common wren. 
It is an active and lively little bird, and seems to attach 
itself to those mountain streams, the currents of which 
are rapid and often broken ; there it may be seen, either 
flying past you with great rapidity, or seated upon some 
stone in the middle of the stream, warbling its sweet 
notes, when all around it is cold and ice-bound. It be¬ 
gins to prepare its nest early in April; it is, as before 
mentioned, very similar to that of the common wren ; 
like it, it is composed of an abundance of moss, thickly 
and compactly woven together, and threaded through here 
and there by a few straws to give it greater strength ; it 
is covered with a dome, leaving merely the small hole of 
entrance for the bird. This little doorway is, too, as I 
have seldom failed to notice in the nest of the wren, 
neatly smoothed down and kept straight and even, for the 
reception of the bird’s feet in passing in and out, by a 
few strong grass stalks; it is not so deep inside as other 
nests of a similar formation, being very thickly lined witli 
a large quantity of dead leaves of the beech and oak, but 
chiefly of the latter, with a few straws and flags; it is 
placed, for the most part, either against the bank of a 
river, or the moss-grown surface of a rock. 


78 


MERULIDiE. 


My friend Mr. Benjamin .Johnson has known of a nest 
of this bird for many years in succession, which was built 
upon the rafters in one of the salmon fish-lochs upon the 
river Tyne. It has been repeatedly known to build its 
nest under the arch formed by a natural waterfall or mill- 
dam, and within reach of the passing spray. The eggs 
are four or five in number, white when blown, but of a 
delicate pink when the yolk is yet in them. 

Once, when in company with Mr. George Selby, in 
the beautiful grounds of Twizell, we came suddenly upon 
a nest full of young dippers, which, though scarcely able 
to fly, instantly scrambled into the water, down the stream 
of which they were hurried with such rapidity that I sup¬ 
posed it impossible that any of them could have escaped ' 
destruction; they did so, however, and landed safely far 
below. 




~xm 


2 



1 



1 






MISSEL THRUSH. 


79 


/NCESS ORES. 
DENTfROSTRES. 


MERULIDJE. 


MISSEL THRUSH. 

Turdus viscivorus. 

PLATE XXIII. FIG. I. 

The Missel Thrush, at all other times a very shy 
and wary bird, seen only at a distance, or heard pouring 
forth its peculiarly wild, full note from the top of some 
high tree, becomes quite familiar in the spring, approaches 
our orchards and gardens, and makes its nest, which re¬ 
sembles that of the blackbird, about the middle of March, 
in plantations of fir or in single trees of oak, apple, &c., 
placing it usually at the first divarication of the branches, 
ten or fifteen feet above the ground. I know of no bird 
that seems at times to have so little idea of concealing 
its nest as the Missel Thrush ; it is sometimes scarcely 
possible to pass by it without discovery; it is formed of 
large quantities of straw, matting stolen from the garden, 
wool, and grass, which are frequently left dangling down 
on all sides, as though the nest had been torn to pieces; 
a little moss is sometimes used; it is then cemented with 
mud, and afterwards lined with fine dry grass. I have 
seen a nest of this bird the foundation of which was 
mud, strongly cemented to, and nearly encircling, the 
branches between which it was placed. 

The female lays four or five eggs, differing a good deal 
in size as well as in the ground colour, which varies from 
a greenish to a reddish tint; they are always easily known 
from the eggs of any other bird. 


80 


MERULID7E. 


I had always believed that the Missel Thrush deserved 
the character which it has obtained of quarrelsomeness 
and pugnacity, until I have become better acquainted 
with its history. Wherever its nest is there its harsh 
querulous cries may be often heard. During the breed¬ 
ing season it is the most persecuted bird that lives. It is 
kept in perpetual turmoil, and, well for it, it is possessed 
with courage. Its eggs are constantly sucked by the 
jackdaw and the corby crow, and if it should succeed in 
defending them by its intrepidity till they are hatched, 
its young are the epicure’s bit of the same crow and 
jackdaw, and even tempt the rook to become raptorial. 
When I saw the Missel Thrushes making their nests 
here, as they do every year, high up, forty or fifty feet 
above the ground, and midway upon the horizontal 
branches of some lofty cedar-trees, I thought how securely 
they were placed, and so they were from terrestrial foes; 
but, called out as a witness to the murder by the pitiless 
cries of the poor persecuted thrushes, I have had the 
mortification of seeing their young ones carried off year 
after year with a loud croak of satisfaction by their demon 
foe the corby crow. Out of a dozen nests which I have 
noticed upon these trees, the young from two only have 
escaped. 

Mr. Bond says that he has known the Missel Thrush 
to again lay its eggs in the same nest in which it had suc¬ 
cessfully reared a brood of young ones. 


SONG THRUSH. 


81 


INC ESSO RES. 
DENTIROSTRES. 


MERULIDJE. 


SONG THRUSH. 

Turdus MUSICUS. 

PLATE XXIII. FIG. II. 

The nest of the thrush is composed of moss and dry 
grass, with the addition of a few sticks, straw, and roots, 
cemented together in the inside by a composition of clay 
and rotten wood. 

Nearly all our writers on the subject state, that the 
nest of the thrush is plastered with cow-dung; I am very 
much inclined to think that they are mistaken, and that 
if the material is ever used, it is in very rare instances 
only. Amongst a large number of the nests which I have 
examined, when the plaster was yet freshly spread, there 
did not appear to be anything besides clay, in which was 
mixed up small bits of rotten wood, forming together, 
when dry, a composition which in many instances is com¬ 
pletely water-tight. When the spring has been a wet 
one I have frequently found the newly-finished nests half 
full of water, either causing their abandonment by the 
birds, or delaying them some days from laying their eggs. 
In a few nests I have noticed particles of reeds and 
thistle-down mixed with the clay instead of rotten wood. 

In the south of England the Thrush begins to build 
early in March. In the north it is much later. 

In Westmoreland, where with a party of my school¬ 
fellows I spent all my play hours in hunting birds’ 
nests, each of us being on the alert and anxious to find 

G 


82 


MERULIDJE. 


the first of the season, we never met with the eggs of the 
thrush earlier than the beginning of April, and for seve¬ 
ral years the first nest and eggs were taken between the 
5th and 8th of the month. 

The situation where we used to find them varied much. 
In thick thorn or holly bushes, tall furze or bram¬ 
bles, the top of a dead stake-fence, or amongst the ex¬ 
posed roots of trees on a bank side; they are also fre¬ 
quently built in gardens on fruit-trees against a wall. 
Here, in Surrey, where evergreens abound, they are glad 
to make use of the early shelter of the laurel, and two 
or three pairs every year make their nests high up upon 
the horizontal branches of some large cedars. Mr. J. II. 
Gurney says, that “ a Song Thrush in a plantation at 
Sprowston, near Norwich, instead of making her nest in 
the ordinary manner, laid and hatched her eggs on the 
bare ground without any nest, but simply in a little hol¬ 
low scratched out at the foot, and under the shelter of a 
small bush.” 

It is sometimes no easy matter to remove an old nest 
of the thrush when placed upon the boughs of the laurel, 
the mud of which it is formed, kept moist by a wet season, 
will cause the branch to throw out roots which firmly 
bind it to the tree. The progress made by a thrush in 
the construction of its nest varies as much as the weather 
does at the season. In cold weather the work goes on 
very dilatorily, and sometimes ceases altogether. In fine 
weather a nest will be completed from the first bit of 
moss, plastered, and contain its first egg within a week. 
This year I was witness to the most marvellous piece of. 
architecture I ever saw; a thrush had completed its nest 
in a fir-tree against the house, and had early one morn¬ 
ing laid its first egg. At ten o’clock the nest was torn 
out and taken away, how I could not discover, but not, I 


SONG THRUSH. 


83 


believe, by human means; the rough grass which formed 
the bottom was all that was left. At ten the next dav, 
much to my astonishment, I found that the birds had 
completely restored the nest — had again lined it with 
plaster, and that the female was then laying an egg : this 
time, as their perseverance deserved, they successfully 
reared their young ones. 

The thrush lays four or five eggs spotted usually with 
deep black, rarely with red or purple-brown; sometimes 
they are without spots ; those which are laid early in the 
year, and during cold weather, are often less and of a 
lighter blue than those which are produced afterwards. 


84 


MERULIDiE. 


INCESSOIIES. MERULIDJE. 

DENTIROSTRES. 


FIELDFARE. 

Turdus pilaris. 

PLATE XXIV. FIG. III. 

Living in a town which had fostered the existing taste 
for ornithology, and spread it widely through our native 
land by the immortal birds of Bewick, we had for long 
felt dissatisfied at the slow progress which was making in 
a knowledge of their nidification and their eggs. 

In the hope of satisfying some of our own cravings, and 
more still of giving an impulse to one of our favourite 
pursuits, two bird-nesting expeditions to the north of 
Europe, planned during the winter of 1832, were success¬ 
fully accomplished during the succeeding summer, one 
by Mr. G. C. Atkinson to the Feroe Isles and Iceland, 
of which I shall have to speak when we reach the water- 
birds, the other to the coast of Norway, by my friends 
John Hancock, B. Johnson, and myself. Intending that 
the Fieldfare should be our avant courier to its native 
land, it was with peculiar interest that we watched its long 
lingering in our own for weeks after our blackbirds and 
thrushes had commenced their nidification. It was not 
until the end of April that the last of them took their 
departure from our neighbourhood. 

In a few days afterwards, on the 14th of May, our first 
day in Norway, we enjoyed the pleasure of again seeing 
them in their own wild native woods, engaged so earlv 
after their arrival, in all the bustle of preparation for the 


FIELDFARE. 


85 


production of other colonies, to visit us in future years. 
We had been out all day, rambling through those almost 
impassable forests, and after having climbed many a tree 
to no purpose,—to nests of the previous summer, which 
we supposed must have once been tenanted by the birds 
of which we were in search,—were returning home weary 
and disappointed, when suddenly the monotonous silence 
of the woods was broken by the loud harsh cries of a 
colony of Fieldfares, which, alarmed at our approach, 
were anxiously watching over their newly-established 
dwellings. We very soon forgot our toils in the delight 
which we experienced at the discovery of several of their 
nests, and were surprised to find them, so contrary to 
the habits of the rest of the genus with which we are 
acquainted, breeding in society. Their nests were at 
various heights above the ground, from four to thirty or 
forty feet or upwards, and mixed with old ones of the 
preceding summer; they were for the most part placed 
against the trunk of the spruce fir-tree; some were, how¬ 
ever, at a considerable distance from it, towards the 
smaller end of the thicker branches. They resemble most 
nearly those of the ring ouzel; the outside is composed 
of sticks and coarse grass, and weeds gathered wet, 
matted together with a small quantity of clay, and lined 
with a thick bed of fine dry grass; none of them yet 
contained more than three eggs, although we afterwards 
found that five were more commonly the number than four, 
and that even six were very frequent; they are very similar 
to those of the blackbird, and even more so to those of 
the ring ouzel and the redwing, but do not vary so much; 
indeed so closely do the eggs of the four species resemble 
each other, that a drawing of one might apply to all. 
They are all sometimes so closely freckled throughout 
that the colour of the freckles predominates; they all 


86 


MERULIDiE. 


have a variety in which the ground colour is most seen, 
the red brown spots being larger and much more spar¬ 
ingly sprinkled. Mr. Wolley, writing from Sweden, says, 
that this summer he has found unfinished nests and fresh- 
laid eggs of the Fieldfare near Kilix, on the 30th of May, 
that the four or five breeding-places which he found were 
amongst very young fir-trees upon the borders of the 
forest, and near cultivated land. The Fieldfare is the 
most abundant bird in Norway, and is generally diffused 
over that part of the country which we visited, from 
Drontheim to the Arctic Circle. It builds, as before 
stated, in society. Two hundred nests or upwards may 
be found within a small circuit of the forest. 







XXIV 





REDWING. 


87 


WCESSORES. 
DEN TIR OS TRESj 


MERUL1D/E. 


REDWING. 

Turdus iliacus. 

PLATE XXIV. FIGS. I. AND II. 

In our long rambles through the boundless forest 
scenery of Norway, or during our visits to some of its 
thousand isles, whether by night or by day, the loud, 
wild, and most delicious song of the Redwing seldom 
failed to cheer us. 

Unlike its neighbour the fieldfare, it was solitary and 
shy, and on our approach to the tree on the top of which 
it was perched, would drop down and hide itself in the 
thick of the brushwood. 

Throughout that part of the country which we visited it 
is known by the name of nightingale, and well it deserves 
to be so; to a sweeter songster I have never listened. 
Like the nightingale of more southern skies, its clear 
sweet song would occasionally delight us during the 
hours of night, if the two or three delightful hours of 
twilight which succeed the long day of a Norwegian 
summer can be called night. The birds, like the other 
inhabitants of the country, seem loth to lose in sleep a 
portion of this delicious short-lived season. 

Anxious to extend our researches onwards, in the hope 
that as we proceeded north we should prove more suc¬ 
cessful, we had lingered but little to search for the nest 
and eggs of the Redwing, and our inquiries with regard 
to them had been unavailing. One afternoon, as we 


88 


MERULIDiE. 


approached the sea-coast, and at the same time the 
northern limit of a beaten road, we discovered a nest, 
but to our great disappointment it had young ones. 
Having almost reached the boundary of our woodland 
rambles for the present, we spent the whole of the follow¬ 
ing day in exploring the beautiful woods by which we 
were on all sides surrounded. We found a second nest, 
but the eggs were again hatched. It was here, too, that 
we saw the brambling, accompanied by its full grown 
young ones. 

The nest of the Redwing, as far as I can speak from 
my own experience in Norway, is placed singly, like 
those of the thrush and blackbird, in the centre of a 
thorn or other thick bush. It is similar to those of the 
blackbird, fieldfare, and ring ouzel. Outwardly, it is 
formed of moss, roots, and dry grass; inwardly, it is 
cemented with clay, and again lined with finer grass. 

The doubt which for a long time existed with regard to 
the eggs of the Redwing has been entirely removed of late. 
Collectors have received them in abundance from Iceland 
through Mr. Proctor, of the Durham University Museum, 
and from Norway through Mr. Dann. M. Nilsson, to 
whom as a Swedish naturalist much deference was due, 
has described the eggs as blue spotted with black. Mr. 
Yarrell had adopted this description in the first edition of 
his most useful work, and inadvertently repeated it in the 
second, and I must say, that my own prepossessions were 
greatly in favour of a blue egg, like that of our common 
thrush, and that I felt something like disappointment 
when it was ascertained to be otherwise. 

Mr. Proctor, who has taken the eggs of the Redwing for 
several summers in Iceland, has kindly sent me the fol¬ 
lowing very interesting information. “ In Iceland, where 
there is scarcely any wood except the birch-tree, and 


REDWING. 


89 


that stunted to a dwarf, weather-beaten shrub, the Red¬ 
wing builds amongst its branches, frequently support¬ 
ing the nest upon those which overhang rocky ground. 
Sometimes the nest is placed at the base of the tree’s 
trunk, and often upon a bare ledge of rock like that of 
the ring ouzel, which frequents similar desert wilds. 

The Redwing is the only thrush in Iceland. It breeds 
in single pairs; and Mr. Proctor thinks that it has two 
broods in a season, that the first eggs are laid at the 
beginning of June on the south of the island, but that 
they are later by ten days on the north side. The eggs 
are usually four or five in number, and sometimes, 
though rarely, six. Those that I have figured are from 
the collection of Mr. Wilmot, both supplied by Mr. Proc¬ 
tor. They are usually somewhat smaller than those of 
the fieldfare, but at times, as will be seen by the second 
figure of the plate, do not differ from eggs of that species. 
They also closely resemble eggs of the blackbird and 
ring ouzel. Indeed we have no genus of birds in which 
the eggs of several species are so much alike. 

Mr. Wolley, who has taken up his quarters at Muonio- 
niska in Tornea Lapmark for the winter, says that the 
Redwing “ makes its nest near the ground, in an open 
part of the wood, generally in the outskirts, on a stump, 
a log, or the roots of a fallen tree, sometimes amongst 
a cluster of young stems of the birch, usually quite ex¬ 
posed, so as almost to seem as if placed so purposely, 
the walls often supported only by their foundation. The 
first or coarse part of the nest is made for the most part 
of dried bents, sometimes with fine twigs and moss; this 
is lined with a thin layer of dirt, and then is added a 
thick bed of fine grass of the previous year, compactly 
woven together, which completes the structure. Outside 
is often a good deal of the kind of lichen called rein-deer 


90 


REDWING. 


moss, and one nest particularly, which I have preserved, 
is entirely covered with it: when it was fresh, and the 
fine ramifications of the lichen unbroken, it had a most 
beautiful appearance. The nest of the Redwing can 
generally be distinguished from that of the fieldfare by 
the much less quantity of plaster used in its construc¬ 
tion, none of which is visible till the nest is pulled to 
pieces ; it is therefore relatively lighter, besides being of 
smaller .size. 

“ The birds appear to be somewhat irregular in their 
time of breeding. Of those nests which I saw near 
Muonioniska on the 13th of June, one had three young 
and two eggs ; another had five small eggs not long laid, 
and which, perhaps, belonged to a last year’s bird; the 
third nest had four eggs, nearly ready to hatch. On the 
8th of July, at this same place, I saw two nests with new 
laid eggs, but they might be second broods, or belong to 
birds which had lost their first; there were five eggs in 
each of these two nests, and five appears to be the most 
common number.” If further evidence was necessary, 
after the abundant information which kind friends have 
enabled me to give, Mr. Wolley adds, that on the 23rd 
of May, near Umea, he shot a Redwing, and took from 
it a mature egg, resembling those from Iceland and 
Sweden. 




XXV. 


a 




in 


IV 
















BLACKBIRD. 


91 


/ iVCESSORES. 
DENTIROSTRES. 


MERULID JE. 


BLACKBIRD. 

Turdus merula. 

PLATE XXV. FIGS. I. AND II. 

In its time of incubation, and in the position of its 
nest, the Blackbird differs very slightly from the thrush. 

The nest, which is sometimes very much exposed, may 
be met with in thorn hedges, or single bushes, in ever¬ 
greens, occasionally on the top of a naked stake-fence, on 
the summit of a wall, or in a heap of dead sticks. I have 
seen it within a few inches of the ground, on the stump of 
a felled tree. 

It is formed chiefly of grass, with a few dry sticks, 
roots, and dead leaves, cemented together with mud, 
which it uses in a much greater quantity than the thrush, 
and is then lined with fine dry grass. 

The eggs, which are four or five in number, vary much. 

Figure 1. represents a common variety, although not the 
most typical I could have chosen. I have figured it to 
make the drawings—at the same time that they represent 
each species—illustrative of the whole genus; figure 2, a 
variety, much resembling eggs of the ring ouzel; a variety 
similar to the last, except that the ground colour is 
lighter, and the spots smaller, is not unfrequent. I have 
a beautiful egg of this species, of a clear spotless light 
blue, with the whole of the larger end suffused with red¬ 
dish-brown. The Rev. A. C. Smith has kindly sent me a 


92 


MERULTDJE. 


very beautiful egg, such as I have never seen before; it is 
of a clear green-blue, with numerous minute spots and 
some large blotches of delicate light red brown and 
purple, with two or three spots of black at the larger end. 
My friend, Mr. Henry Doubleday, found several nests of 
the Blackbird in JEppiug Forest, the eggs of which were 
of the fine blue of the thrush, and without spot. 

The eggs of the Blackbird are frequently of an oval 
form, the smaller end being rounded and obtuse, a cha¬ 
racter which I have not noticed in the allied species. 


RING OUZEL. 


93 


INCESSORES. MERULIDJE. 

DENTIROSTRES. 


RING OUZEL. 

Turdus torquatus. 

PLATE XXV. FIGS. III. AND IV. 

The Ring Ouzel is rather a local bird, and is much 
more abundant in the north than in the south of England. 
It is seldom seen except in the wild mountain districts, 
which are its favourite haunts. It breeds in several parts 
of Northumberland, and the wilder portions of Derbyshire ; 
and is abundant on some of the Yorkshire moors, espe¬ 
cially about Halifax. 

It builds its nest upon the ledges of the picturesque 
gray rocks, which are the peculiar feature of these moun¬ 
tain districts. It is very similar to that of the blackbird, 
and is outwardly composed of pieces of heather and 
coarse grass, with a slight layer of clay, and thickly lined 
with dry fine grass. It is frequently roofed over by a 
projecting ledge of rock, or a bunch of heather. 

The eggs are four or five in number; they are more 
like those of the fieldfare than those of the blackbird, 
and very rarely resemble the common closely freckled egg 
of the latter. They are frequently more closely marked 
than figure III. of the plate, and with much lighter spots 
of red-brown and purple, and in some of their varieties 
resemble the figure of the egg of the fieldfare. 

Figure IV. is a variety of unusual beauty and a good 
deal like the eggs of the missel-thrush. 


94 


MERCJLIDiE. 


INCESSORES. 

DENTIROSTRES. 


MERULIDJE. 


GOLDEN ORIOLE. 

Oriolus galbula. 

PLATE XXVI. FIG. I. 

The Golden Oriole, though quite a rare visitor in 
this country, is rather common in Italy and the south 
of France. In Germany, at least that part of it which 
I have visited, it is rare. Once only whilst wandering 
through the forests of Bavaria, its bright tropical colours 
caught my eye. 

Mr. Meyer has figured a nest of this bird, said to have 
been taken in Suffolk. Mr. Yarrell has also had a draw¬ 
ing made for his Birds from one in the collection of the 
Zoological Society. 

The Golden Oriole generally builds in high trees, but 
places its nest in a low part of the tree, upon the forked 
extremity of a horizontal branch. It is composed of dry 
grass, roots, and wool, lined with similar materials of a 
finer texture. 

Mr. Alfred Newton says that in looking over a large 
series of the eggs of this species, he has observed that 
very long-shaped examples are unusually prevalent, that 
one in his collection is an inch and three-eighths in 
length, with the usual breadth. 


XXVI. 












ROCK THRUSH. 


95 


INCESSORES. 
DEE TIR OS TRES. 


MERE LID JE. 


ROCK THRUSH. 

Petrocincla saxatilis. 

PLATE XXVI. FIG. II. 

This beautiful bird, which Mr. Gould says very truly 
manifests a relationship to the Saxicolae, frequents similar 
rocky districts, and is met with in the Swiss Alps, in the 
Pyrenees and Tyrolese Alps, and Mr. Yarrell, who states 
that this bird has been twice killed in England, says 
that it inhabits Germany, France, and various parts of 
Spain, particularly the rocky districts about Aragon. I 
am indebted to the Rev. S. C. Malan for the following 
notes. “ I had, years ago, frequent opportunities of watch¬ 
ing the habits of the Rock Thrush while residing in the 
neighbourhood of Geneva. It is not by any means a 
rare bird at the foot of the Seleve, a few miles from that 
city. It nestles not in rocks, but among broken frag¬ 
ments of rocks and loose stones. The nest is loosely 
built, lined with hair; the eggs five in number. They 
vary in intensity of colour, and are not unfrequently 
speckled over with a few scattered dark-brown or pur¬ 
plish-brown spots.” The egg which I have figured has 
been kindly supplied to me from the collection of one 
of my oldest oological friends and correspondents, Mr. 
J. D. Salmon. 


96 


SYLVIADiE. 


INCESSORES. S YL VIA D/E. 

DENTIR OS TRES. 


ALPINE ACCENTOR. 

Accentor alpinus. 

PLATE XXVII. FIG. II. 

This species, as its name implies, is an inhabitant of 
Alpine countries. It is met with in the mountainous 
regions of Europe, and especially of those districts which 
are of a rugged and rocky character. Mr. Selby says 
that “it is very common upon the Swiss Alps, and may 
be always seen by travellers in the environs of the con¬ 
vent upon Mount St. Bernard. In summer it ascends to 
very elevated stations, where it breeds in holes and under 
ledges of the rocks.” I have seen many of them, during 
the breeding-season, on the Pass of the Gemmi, and on 
the ascent of the Great St. Gothard from Fluellen, before 
reaching the Devil’s Bridge. Its nest is composed, like 
that of the hedge-sparrow, of moss, dry grass, and wool, 
lined with hair. The eggs are four or five in number, 
and like those of the allied species, of a beautiful spotless 
blue, but rather more intsnse in their colouring. 


























































xx vn 






HEDGE ACCENTOR, HEDGE SPARROW. 


97 


INCESSORES . SYL VIA DIE. 

EENTIROSTRES. 


HEDGE ACCENTOR, HEDGE SPARROW. 

Accentor modularis. 

PLATE XXVII. FIG. I. 

, This gentle, unobtrusive little bird, though neither bril¬ 
liant in plumage nor yet in song, has many claims upon 
our regards. There is no other species of bird, with the 
exception of the house sparrow, which is so much in our 
immediate neighbourhood the year round; and in the 
winter, when all the rest have become mute, except the 
robin and the wren, it ceases not to utter its monotonous, 
though agreeable notes. 

Every one must remember the bright blue egg which 
first caught his boyish fancy, and the pleasure he has 
derived from its discovery and possession. 

The Hedge Sparrow is one of our earliest breeders, 
and begins to lay its eggs in March or the beginning of 
April. 

The nest is usually placed in a garden or orchard 
fence, or that of the field adjoining, or in some bush in 
the garden ; sometimes in a furze-bush, or in ivy against 
a wall. I do not remember to have ever found one 
except near to some habitation. 

The nest is composed of pieces of stick, coarse grass, 
moss, and bits of wool, and is lined with hair. Sometimes 
it is built almost entirely of dry grass. 

In two instances I have seen the nest of this bird so 
imperfectly finished that the thorns were sticking through 
the inside, apparently very much to the discomfort of the 
old bird. The eggs are four or five in number. 

H 


98 


SYLVIADiE. 


IA 7 CESSOR ES. 
DENT1R0STRES. 


SYLVIA DM. 


ROBIN REDBREAST. 

Erythaca rubecula. 

PLATE XXVIII. 

In the springtide and summer of the year, when his 
sweet and cheerful notes are superseded by the loud 
carols of a thousand minstrels from abroad, the Robin is 
busy making his nest and rearing his young ones, away in 
the shady woods and green lanes of the country; when, 
however, the sunny summertide is gone, and the silent 
groves have been decked in all the gorgeous colouring of 
autumn, when the leaves, so lately green, are strewed 
around us by the drifting winds of November, then it is 
that our constant and familiar friend comes near our 
dwelling, cheering us at the earliest dawn of morning with 
his plaintive music, and again at eve till the last depart¬ 
ing gleams of day have given place to the gloomy 
shadows of the night. 

If the weather remains mild and open, and worms are 
to be had, we see little of him except when he comes 
to chant his morning and evening greeting under our 
window. 

Should the severity of the frost, or the pitiless snow¬ 
storm deprive him of his daily food, we begin to feel an 
interest in his fate, and the beautiful language of Burns 
occurs to our recollection: — 




XML 















































' 













■ 




















. 







ROBIN REDBREAST. 


99 


“ Ilk happing bird, wee, helpless thing, 

That in the merry months o’ spring, 

Delighted me to hear thee sing, 

What comes o’ thee ? 

Whare wilt thou cow’r thy chittering wing 
An’ close thy e’e?” 

Then it is, that this dear pet of our childhood, pre¬ 
suming upon the kindness with which his race has ever 
been treated, will alight upon our threshold, and becoming 
more familiar each day, may be persuaded to pick the 
crumbs from our table, and even to become a cherished 
inmate of our dwellings. 

“ Half afraid, he first 

Against the window beats ; then brisk alights 
On the warm hearth; then hopping o’er the floor, 

Eyes all the smiling family askance, 

And pecks, and starts, and wonders where he is ; 

Till more familiar grown, the table crumbs 
Attract his slender feet.” 


Amongst the oft-recurring memories of the past, there 
are few that come to my recollection with more undi¬ 
minished enjoyment than the events of a severe winter. 

Myself, and a brother who is now no more, were then 
learning our ornithological alphabet, and imbibing our 
first taste for natural history from the works of Bewick, 
one of the truest naturalists that our country has ever 
seen. Outside our window was a wide ledge, which being- 
kept thickly strewed with bread crumbs, attracted a con¬ 
stant succession of visitors, which we had no difficulty in 
identifying with the beautiful fac-similes before us; and 
such was the pinching influence of the cold, that at one 
time we had even rooks among the rest; but of them all 
none was so welcome as the Robin, and great indeed was 
our delight when we succeeded in inducing one to take 
up his quarters with us for the night. 


100 


SYLVIADA2. 


He would return every evening as regularly as the 
decline of day, and not only stayed with us the whole of 
that winter, roosting on one of the bell wires, but con¬ 
tinued to do so for some succeeding years, till, upon our 
being sent to school, our playfellow was forgotten. 

It is, however, singular that several years after this a 
Redbreast—it may have been the same one—used to 
spend its winter nights in my hither’s bed-room, when he 
was much interested by watching it and another, its 
companion, which would come at times to the window, 
to join it when liberated in the morning. 

When engaged in railway surveys during the winter I 
have known the Robin come without fear or harm, to beg 
a crumb from the dinners of our workmen, and eat it off 
their hands. 

The nest of the Robin is composed of moss, dried 
grass, and dead leaves, lined with hair, and sometimes a 
few feathers; its natural position is a hollow in the side 
of a woody bank, or of a country lane, where it is shel¬ 
tered by the overhanging brushwood; it is not unfre- 
quently found in the hole of an old ruin or garden wall; 
and may be met with in as many whimsical positions as 
the nest of the spotted flycatcher. 

Mr. Selby mentions having known several instances in 
which it occupied the inside of a watering-pot, and Mr. 
Blackwell describes one which was built in the side of a 
sawpit, where people were at work. 

Although I have stated that the Robins betake them¬ 
selves to the country to spend the joyous months of 
summer, many of them remain near us. Mr. J. H. Tuke 
informs me that they had no less than four nests of this 
species in their garden in York, during the last summer. 
They had placed flower-pots for the purpose in different 
parts of the garden, and had the pleasure of seeing four 


* i 


ROBIN REDBREAST. 


101 


of them occupied, each by the nest of a different pair of 
Robins. 

A pair of Redbreasts had their nest in some ivy 
against a garden wall near Newcastle, which the owner 
was about to remove, but being unwilling to disturb its 
tenants, he took the nest and eggs, and placing them in a 
neighbouring bush, had the satisfaction of seeing the old 
bird again reseated on her eggs. 

The eggs are mostly four or five, sometimes six, and 
even seven in number; they differ a good deal in colouring, 
some are almost, some perfectly, white, others are spar¬ 
ingly but distinctly spotted, and resemble eggs of the 
green linnet, whilst the majority are like the first figure 
of the Plate. 


102 


SYLVIADiE. 


INCESSORES. SYL VI AD YE. 

DENTIROSTRLS. 


BLUE-THROATED WARBLER. 

Ph(ENICURA Suecica. 

PLATE XXIX. FIG. I. 

Very few specimens of this beautiful bird have yet 
been killed in this country; the first of which there is any 
record, was shot upon the town moor of Newcastle-upon- 
Tyne, and is now in the Museum belonging to that 
town. 

The only account which we have of the habits and nidi- 
lication of this species, is the following, which is given by 
Mr. Yarrell, from the pen of the late Mr. J. D. Hoy, his 
observations being made during a bird-nesting visit to the 
Continent. 

“ This bird makes its appearance early in spring, pre¬ 
ceding that of the nightingale by ten or twelve days. I 
have always found this species during the breeding-season 
in low swampy grounds, on the woody borders of boggy 
heaths, and on the banks of streams running through wet 
springy meadows, where there is abundance of alder and 
willow underwood. 

“ The nest is placed on the ground amongst plants of 
the bog myrtle, in places overgrown with coarse grass, on 
the sides of sloping banks, in the bottom of stubs of 
scrubby brushwood in wet situations. It is well concealed, 
and difficult to discover. 1 do not believe they ever 
build in holes of trees. 


XXK 







































BLUE-THROATED WARBLER. 


103 


I he nest is composed, on the outside, of dead grass 
and a little moss, and lined with finer grass. The eggs 
are from four to six in number,” and usually resemble the 
one figured ; one, which Mr. Alfred Newton has sent me 
from his collection, is of a uniform olive-brown, as dark 
as the egg of the nightingale, from which it differs only in 
size. 

Acerbi mentions his having found several nests and 
eggs of this bird on the banks of the river Jeres, at the 
head of the Gulf of Bothnia. It is also an inhabitant of 
some parts of Norway. In that portion of the country 
which we visited it is rare, and only once afforded us an 
opportunity of seeing it, and then under circumstances 
which I can never think of without feelings of extreme 
pleasure. We were descending the steep and woody 
sides of one of the numerous islands with which the 
Norwegian coast is so thickly studded. It was after 
midnight, and the sun, which we had just seen set in 
glory above the horizon, was now with its rising beams 
diffusing an additional warmth over the face of nature, 
and adding a lustre to every beautiful and magnificent 
object around us ; Nature, which during the short deli¬ 
cious summer of these regions, seems scarcely to allow 
time for slumber or repose, v r as thus early in activity. 
The bees came humming past us, and a Blue-throated 
Warbler, which was in motion amongst the low brush¬ 
wood, arrested our progress. 

Although classed with the redstarts, in the little we 
saw of its habits, this species seemed much more to 
resemble the birds of the genus Curruca or Sylvia, in 
its hiding skulking manner. 


104 


SYLVIAD7E. 


LVCESSORES. 

DENTIROSTRES. 


SYLVIA DM. 


REDSTART, REDTAIL, FIRETAIL. 

Phcenicura ruticilla. 

PLATE XXIX. FIG. II. 

The Redstart is amongst the most familiar of our 
summer visitors, frequenting our towns and villages, and 
building its nest in a hole in the garden wall, or the 
hollow of some tree. 

There its oft-repeated and monotonous note may be 
heard throughout the day, uttered sometimes in a tone 
of so much apparent anxiety and distress, that one is 
led to expect some enemy prowling near, and such is too 
frequently the case : numerous are the broods of this 
and other species of our friends, which fall an easy 
prey to the numerous cats that are ever on the watch. 

The nest of the Redstart is formed chiefly of moss 
and dry grass, lined with hair and feathers. Two nests 
sent me by my friend the Rev. W. D. Fox, differ so 
much that I will describe them separately. One, taken 
from a hole in a tree, was formed of moss, grass, and a 
few dry leaves, lined with a quantity of wool, mixed with 
fine grass and hair. The other, from a wall, was chiefly 
of dry grass, moss, and wool, with finer grasses and 
hair towards the inside, and lined with a profusion of 
white feathers. 

The eggs, which are from five to eight in number, are 
smaller than those of the hedge sparrow, of a more slender 
and delicate form, and usually of a lighter blue. 


BLACK REDSTART. 


105 


l JVC ESSO RES. S YL VTA DM. 

DENTIROSTRES. 


BLACK REDSTART. 

Phcenicura tithys. 

PLATE XXIX. FIG. III. 

In its habits and the position and materials of its nest, 
this species very closely resembles the Common Redstart. 

When at Kissingen in Bavaria, I used to watch several 
of these birds, which had their nests in buildings in 
the environs of the town. It was towards the end of 
June when they had all young ones. Two pair of these 
had their nests in the walls of a salt manufactory, a 
building of great length for the purpose of evaporating- 
salt water. 

The nests were composed of moss, dry grass, and wool, 
lined with hair and feathers. 

Mr. W. R. Fisher, of Yarmouth, has kindly sent me the 
following memorandum relative to the Black Redstart:— 
“ I took the nest of this bird in Germany. It contained 
six eggs, which at first, from the transparency of the 
shell, were of a pink colour, but when blown, quite 
white. The nest was placed in the angle formed by 
two cross beams in the roof of an inhabited house, and 
was chiefly composed of worsted yarn, a quantity of 
which I found lying near the spot ; I observed that 
the bird remained all the winter, and have since been 
told that it returns annually to the same place to breed.” 

The Black Redstart lays five or six eggs, which, when 
blown, are of a purer white than those of any other bird 
which I have seen. 


106 


SYLVIADiE. 


On reading a notice in the Zoologist as to a supposed 
nest and eggs of this species, I should have been led to 
pass it by as insufficient, having from a boy at school 
been yearly puzzled by white eggs of many species. 
Mr. Hawkins has, however, kindly sent me one of the 
eggs to look at, which, from its size, shape, and the very 
delicate white and texture of its shell, can scarcely be 
a white variety of the egg of any other British bird. Mr. 
Hawkins observes, that this occurrence is only a link in 
the chain of evidence, and that he has since been assured 
by a respectable person in his neighbourhood that he 
knew of a nest of these birds (the male of which he 
describes accurately), that he had often watched the 
birds whilst building their nest, which was in a wall, and 
contained white eggs larger than those of the Common 
Redstart, which he knows well. 












XXX. 




I 





* 

















STONECHAT. 


107 


1NCESSORES. SYLVIA DAE. 

DENTIROSTRES. 


STONECHAT. 

Saxicola rubicola. 

PLATE XXX. FIG. I. 

The Stonechat is much less common than either of 
the succeeding species ; it breeds, too, in places less fre¬ 
quented, on furze-covered commons and on heaths. The 
nest is placed on the ground, at the bottom of a furze or 
stunted thorn-bush, or amongst the heather ; it is com¬ 
posed principally of grass, with a small quantity of moss, 
hair, and a few feathers loosely put together; the eggs 
are five, or more commonly six in number, sometimes, 
though rarely„ seven ; they are readily distinguished from 
the spotted variety of the eggs of the whinchat, being 
much less blue, and more closely freckled throughout 
with light reddish-brown. The Stonechat breeds in May 
or June ; it is, however, very difficult to mention any 
particular date for the time of nidification of our smaller 
birds, as individuals of the same species are frequently 
building their nests, laying their eggs, sitting them, or 
feeding their young ones at the same time. In confirma¬ 
tion of this, Mr. A. Newton tells me that he has known 
nests of the Stonechat early in April, and has seen young 
ones scarcely able to fly at the end of August. 


108 


SYLVIADiE. 


INCESSOTiES. SYL VIA DAE. 

DENTIROSTRES. 


WHINCHAT, GRASSCHAT. 

Saxicola rubetra. 

PLATE XXX. FIG. II. 

The Whinchat is not, as its name might imply, so 
entirely an inhabitant of those furze-covered hedgeless 
districts, as the other two species of Saxicola. In one of 
the rich grassy vales of Westmoreland, where I was at 
school, it was abundant, and there the name of Grasschat, 
by which we used to know it, was suited to the nature of 
the country round. 

They were so plentiful, that any evening on which we 
bent our bird-nesting rambles to the inclosures, we were 
usually successful in finding two or three of their nests. 
These were either placed in a tuft of grass in a rough 
pasture field, or amongst the thick grass of the meadows, 
which, at this time of the year, May or June, was long 
and fit for cutting; and I have often since wondered at 
the good-nature of the farmers, who suffered us thus to 
roam unmolested among their crops. 

The furzy common is, however, perhaps the most fa¬ 
vourite resort of this species, where it places its nest, like 
that of the stonecliat, at the foot of a furze or stunted 
thorn-bush, or amongst some heath ; sometimes, though 
rarely, it is placed in the centre of a piece of thick furze, 
a few inches above the ground. 

The nest is composed outwardly of the stalks of plants 


WHINCHAT. 


109 


and dry grass, with a small portion of moss, and is lined 
with finer grass ; like the nests of most birds that build 
upon the ground, it is very slightly woven together, and 
is not easily brought away whole. 

The eggs, which nearly all of our ornithologists have 
described as of a spotless blue, are quite as frequently 
very finely dotted, and sometimes, though very rarely, 
distinctly spotted with rust colour; they are almost in¬ 
variably six in number. 


110 


SYLVIA DiE. 


IIVCESS OR ES. 
DENTIROSTRES. 


SYL VIA D/E. 


WHEATEAR, WHITERUMP. 

Saxicola cenanthe. 

PLATE XXX. FIG. III. 

The Wheatear frequents open downs and commons, 
making its nest in the stone walls or turf dykes, by which 
they are intersected. Mr. Knapp informs me that they 
frequently make their entrance by a hole at a considerable 
distance from the nest, passing to it through the interstices 
between the stones ; and that he had in consequence 
greater difficulty in procuring the eggs of the Wheatear 
than those of almost any other bird in his own neighbour¬ 
hood ; and was not.successful till he had offered a premium 
for them amongst the boys of his parish. 

Mr. Yarrell, quoting the information of Mr. Salmon, 
states that the Wheatear is very abundant in the warrens 
of Norfolk and Suffolk, and usually selects a deserted 
rabbit-burrow, in which it places its nest at some little 
distance from the entrance. 

It will also make its nest in the side of a stone quarry 
or gravel-pit, or upon the ground under the shelter of a 
stone or clod of earth. I have found it also in the sand¬ 
bank of a river, at the mouth of a hole perforated by the 
sand-martin. It is made of the finest dry grasses, mixed 


WHEATEAR. 


Ill 


throughout with small pieces of wool or moss, feathers and 
hair, the outside being nearly as fine as the lining. The 
eggs are five or six in number, and very elegantly formed. 
Sometimes, though very rarely, they are slightly dotted 
with brown : thus, again showing the usually close generic 
resemblance of eggs, and how apparent discrepancies 
vanish as our knowledge increases. 



112 


SYLVIADiE. 


TNCESSORES. 

I) ENT I ROST RES. 


SYLVIAD/E. 


GRASSHOPPER WARBLER. 

Salicaria locustella. 

PLATE XXXI. FIG. I. 

The very shy and skulking nature of this species has 
always made it difficult to become familiarly acquainted 
with its habits, and still more so to obtain its nest and 
eggs ; the first that I ever saw was in the collection of 
Mr. Wingate, of Newcastle, who is well known in the 
north of England for his life-like manner of mounting- 
birds. I quote his account of its discovery from the 
pages of Bewick’s Birds. He says, that “having long- 
wished to get the egg of this bird to add to his curious 
collection, he at length, in June 1815, after much watching, 
succeeded in eyeing it to the distant passage on the top 
of a whin-bush, by which it entered and left its nest. Its 
curious habitation he found was built at the bottom of a 
deep narrow furrow, or ditch, overhung by the prickly 
branches of the whin, and grown over with thick coarse 
grass, matted together, year after year, to the height of 
about two feet. Before he could find the object of his 
pursuit he searched until he was wearied, and at length 
found that there was no other plan left but that of taking 
away the grass by piecemeal, which he was obliged to do 
before he could obtain the prize.” 

The nest of the Grasshopper Warbler is composed of a 
large quantity of grass, so loosely put together that those 
which I have seen could have occupied no other situation 


kxsi 



























GRASSHOPPER WARBLER. 


113 

than the ground. The eggs are five or six in number, 
Mr. Yarrell says, sometimes seven ; they rarely vary so 
much as to render their identity at all doubtful. 

In the collection of Mr. Knapp are two specimens, 
which are more remote from the usual appearance than 
any I have seen ; the minute dots, which are usually 
thickly sprinkled over the whole surface of the egg, are 
in these examples concentrated, so as to form a distinct 
ring round the larger end. Another variety, in the collec¬ 
tion of the Messrs. Tuke, has the ground-colour of a 
pure white. 

I once had a nest of this species brought to me, 
which contained seven eggs, one of which belonged to 
the cuckoo. 

The Rev. W. Turner of Uppingham, one of my corre¬ 
spondents during the progress of the British Oology,has the 
following interesting remarks in the Zoologist. “ Having 
in 1835 and twice since found the nest of the Grasshopper 
Warbler, I am enabled to give the following particulars of 
the nidification and habits of that skulking bird. The first 
nest was about the middle of a small plantation, of four or 
five years’ growth. Out of a tuft of grass, overarched by a 
bramble, and containing a small plant of white thorn, I 
observed something hop, as it were, and immediately drop 
into the herbage. I examined the tuft in hopes of finding 
a nest of something or other; but a careful search resulted 
in nothing but disappointment. In the course of the day 
I returned to the spot; there was the same hop and away, 
but the motion was so short and quick that I could not 
even then distinguish whether I had seen a bird or a 
mouse. I repeated my search for a nest, but with no 
better success than before. I then sat down by the spot 
to watch if anything would approach, and it was not long 
before I observed the grass move and a veritable Sylvia lo- 


i 


114 


SYLVIAD7E. 


custella (threading its way through the grass), approached 
within arm’s length of me ; but, after eyeing me for a 
moment, it commenced a retreat. Feeling confident there 
must be a nest, I took my knife and carefully cut away 
the herbage near the tuft, and then proceeded with the 
tuft itself, in the very centre of which, and in a depression 
of the ground, I found the object of my search, but to the 
very last there was not the slightest appearance of ingress 
or egress. I was so struck with what I had witnessed 
that I again sat down, and ever and anon the same 
stealthy movements to and fro were repeated. The other 
two nests I detected in the same manner, in small open 
places in an extensive wood : their situations were exactly 
alike, being in the centres of two very large tufts of coarse 
grass, at a depth of fourteen or fifteen inches from the 
top. In both cases I watched the movements of the 
female, and they were precisely the same as I have already 
described : she never rose on the wing; and it would 
seem probable (if not disturbed) she never flies either to 
or from her nest, but threads her way through the herbage, 
and thus effectually prevents everything that could lead 
to the discovery of her retreat. 

“ The wdiole proceeding most forcibly reminded me of a 
mouse under similar circumstances. The nests in the 
two latter instances were entirely of dry grass, finer inter¬ 
nally ; in the first there w^as a little moss, owing probably 
to a trifling difference of situation.” 


SAVINS WARBLER. 


115 


INSESSORES. 


SYLVIA DjE. 


SAVl’S WARBLER. 

Salicaria luscinoides. 

PLATE XXXI. FIG. II. 

This is one of the several birds that the spreading 
taste for Ornithology—which received its first impulse 
from the beautiful works of Bewick—and the discrimi¬ 
nation of its votaries, have of late years added to the 
fauna of this country. Like the other species which it 
closely resembles in habits and appearance, it frequents 
districts which are covered with marsh and difficult of 
access, creeping about and hiding itself mouse-like 
amongst the low brushwood. 

Several specimens of this species have been discovered 
in the fens of Cambridgeshire, some of which are in the 
British Museum. 

Mr. Bond, to whose kindness I am indebted for the 
pleasure of figuring this rare egg, received it—together 
with the nest, which contained three eggs, and from 
which the bird was shot — from the fens a few miles 
from Cambridge. The nest, which is beautifully sym¬ 
metrical and round, and built entirely of the broad grassy 
top of the reed, was placed in a thick bunch of sedge 
upon the ground. 

The eggs are considerably larger than those of the 
grasshopper warbler,—and one of them is a good deal 
larger than that which I have figured,—and bear some 
resemblance to them, but are much more like those of 

i 2 


116 


SYLVTAD.E. 


the woodlark and the pied wagtail, the eggs of the 
latter being sold by dealers to represent the eggs of 
Savi’s Warbler. Mr. John Hancock tells me that a 
second nest and eggs of this species, together with the 
birds, which were also obtained in the fens of Cambridge, 
and which agree exactly with those sent me by Mr. 
Bond, are in the collection of Mr. Robson, of Swalwell, 
near Newcastle. 

Mr. W. H. Simpson, in a letter to a friend, says:— 
“ The last time I saw Savi’s Warbler was in Burwell 
fen (now drained), in the month of May, 1849. At 
that time I saw several, and searched most carefully 
for their nests, but it was too early. In the same month 
of the same year a Savi’s Warbler’s nest was taken in 
the fen, not far from Whittlesea Mere, by a man I em¬ 
ployed at that time. It was placed low down amongst 
the sedge, and there were two eggs in it. This fen is 
now, or shortly will be, a corn-field.” 

Mr. Green, a dealer in birds’ eggs, mentions having 
taken a nest of Savi’s Warbler at Dagenham, on the 
14th of May ; the nest was built solely of reeds, and 
exactly resembled that figured in the “ Zoologist.” It 
contained five eggs. 

Savi’s Warbler is apparently a rare bird throughout 
the Continent, and was probably at one time—before the 
diaining of our fens as abundant here as in any other 
part of Europe. 


SEDGE WARBLER. 


117 


INSESSORES. 
REN TIROS TRES. 


SYLVIA DJE. 


SEDGE WARBLER. 

Salicaria phragmitis. 

PLATE XXXI. FIG. III. 

The nest of the Sedge Warbler, though it hears con¬ 
siderable resemblance to that of the following species, 
is evidently intended for a situation less under the in¬ 
fluence of every passing breeze; it is neither so deep 
—though much more so than the nests of most other 
birds,—nor yet so beautifully light. The nests of this 
species vary much in the neatness of their construction; 
some are compact and strong, and, like those of the 
genus Sylvia, formed of umbelliferous plants, with a 
few grasses, and a little moss ; others contain a much 
larger proportion of the softer materials, and are fragile, 
and easily fall to pieces. All that I have seen were 
lined with the fine tops of umbelliferous plants, and 
flowering grasses divested of their seed, with, at times, 
a small portion of wool, hair, or the soft downy sub¬ 
stance of thistles, and other plants. They may occa¬ 
sionally be found, like those of the reed-warbler, 
amongst reeds,—the Arundo phragmites,—from which 
the bird derives its name, hut in a less elevated posi¬ 
tion ; sometimes amongst rushes; and at other times 
in a low hush, or amongst the many kinds of tangled 
brushwood which constitute a hedge bottom. The eggs 
are four or five, and usually closely freckled all over, 


118 


SYLVIADiE. 


and so nearly resemble eggs of the yellow wagtail, that 
it would be difficult to know them apart, or even to 
separate them if together; they are sometimes of a 
uniform dirty yellow, and Mr. Hey sham mentions a nest 
in which three of the eggs were perfectly white. 






XXX11. 






REED WARBLER. 


J 19 


WSESSOKES. 
DEN TIE OS IRES. 


S YL VIA DJE. 


REED WARBLER. 

Salicaria Strepera. 

S. Arundinacea. 

PLATE XXXII. PIGS. I. AND II. 

The nest of the Reed Warbler is one of the most 
beautiful of those of our British Birds, and reminds 
one, when looking at it, of some of those curious struc¬ 
tures which the same natural instinct has taught the 
gaily-coloured inhabitants of other lands to form, as a 
protection from the dangers that surround them. 

Were it not for its peculiarly-formed nest, the young 
ones of this species would be subjected to as much 
danger from every passing breeze, as the birds of tro¬ 
pical countries have to dread from their numerous 
enemies. To pursue the comparison still further, there 
is as much ingenuity shown in entwining the nest of 
this species, and binding it round the several reeds to 
wdiich it is attached, as is displayed in the leaf-cradled 
nest of the tailor bird. 

Built, as the nest of this bird is, high upon the reeds, 
which are agitated by every wind that blows, the eggs 
would be in continual clanger of rolling out, were it 
not for the admirable adaptation of the nest, which is 
so small in its diameter, and so much deeper, in pro¬ 
portion to its size, than the nests of other birds, that 
although, as observed by Montague, the reeds amongst 


120 


SYLVIADvE. 


which it is placed are often bowed by the wind to the 
surface of the water, the eggs and young ones ride 
secure. 

To Mr. Henry Doubleday, of Epping, and Mr. J. J. 
Briggs, of Melbourne, Derbyshire, who finds them in 
his own neighbourhood, I am indebted for several of 
the nests of the Reed Warbler, together with the eggs. 
Each nest is supported by four or five reeds, and forms 
a singularly beautiful object, the long grassy leaves of 
the plant bending over it. 

The nest is composed almost entirely of the flowering 
tops of reeds, finer towards its centre, which is some¬ 
times completed by the addition of a few hairs ; the 
outside is bound round and kept firm by lon'g grass, 
mixed with wool, which is at the same time twisted 
round the reeds. A good figure of the nest is given in 
“ Yarrell’s British Birds.” 

The eggs, which are four or five in number, although 
in some of their varieties resembling those of the sedge 
warbler, are yet readily distinguished by their deeper 
colouring, which is for the most part in distinct spots. 
I have seen a few of these eggs, which are rather like 
those of the whitethroat. The variety at fig. 2 , from 
the collection of Mr. A. Newton, is a good deal like 
some of the eggs of Sylvia Orphea . An egg in the 
collection of Mr. Bond is nearly white, slightly marked 
with gray spots. 

Bolton mentions having found a nest of this bird in a 
low hazel; and Sweet met with another in the low side 
branches of a poplar. 

I must confess that I read these statements with some¬ 
thing of incredulity, until the last summer, during which, 
Mr. Brown, a bird-stufler in Bath, procured for me 
several nests from gardens in that city, lying near the 


REED WARBLER. 


121 


river. These were placed indiscriminately, in any shrub 
most conveniently situated for the purpose; one was in 
a lilac, another in a lauristinus; and since in such a 
position the precaution was unnecessary, they were not 
of the usual depth which commonly characterizes the 
nests of this species. They were not deeper than the 
nests of the sedge warbler, and were composed almost 
entirely of grass, with bits of moss bound together with 
wool and spiders’ webs, finer towards the inside; in one 
only there was a few hairs. 

To avoid much error, I have adopted the name of 
this species which Mr. G. R. Gray has shown claims 
the priority, Arundinacea being by right the name of 
the great sedge warbler, leaving the specific name of 
turdoides to be borne by the thrush nightingale {Philo¬ 
mela turdoides), and thus avoiding the confusion which 
must arise from having two nearly allied birds bearing 
the same name. With one exception (that of two spe¬ 
cies of the same genus bearing it) a specific name, be 
it appropriate or not, even if incorrect in spelling, should 
never on any pretence be changed. A specific name ac¬ 
companied by a figure or description is a copyright for 
ever of the giver, and no one who has a love for 
natural history would attempt to rob a brother natu¬ 
ralist of his right, or to cumber science by naming 
for a second time an insect or a bird which he knows 
has been named before. 


122 


SYLVIADiE. 


INSESSORES. 

DENTIROSTRES. 


SYLVIA DJE. 


GREAT SEDGE WARBLER. 

Salicaria Arundinacea. 

S. Turdoides. 

PLATE XXXII. FIGS. III. AND IV. 

Naturalists have to thank Mr. John Hancock, of 
Newcastle, that they can call this species British. I 
quote his own words, which record the fact, from the 
“ Annals of Natural History.” “A male specimen of 
this fine warbler was shot three or four miles west of 
Newcastle, near to the village of Swalwell, by Mr. 
Thomas Robson of that place, on the 28th of May. 
The attention of this gentleman, who is perfectly familiar 
with the song of all our summer visitants, was arrested 
by a note which he had not before heard, and after some 
search he succeeded in getting a sight of the bird. It 
was concealed in the thickest part of a garden hedge, 
close to an extensive mill-dam, which is bordered with 
willows, reeds, and other aquatic plants. It would 
scarcely leave its retreat, and when it did so. never flew 
far, and always kept close to the herbage. Its habits 
resembled those of the reed fauvette, being continually 
in motion, occasionally hanging with the body down¬ 
wards, or clinging to the branches, and stretching for¬ 
wards to take its prey. From the nature of the locality, 
from the time when captured, and from the enlarged 
state of the testicles, there can be little doubt that this 


GREAT SEDGE WARBLER. 


123 


bird was breeding in tlie neighbourhood; and I have 
some reason for believing that the nidification of this 
species has occurred in another part of England.” Mr. 
Hancock, who then further states that he has an egg 
of this species, taken in Northamptonshire, has since 
expressed to me some doubts upon the subject, having 
lately ascertained that the friend from whom he received 
the egg had in his possession also eggs not British. 

Mr. Gould says that the nest of this species is sup¬ 
ported like that of our reed warbler amongst reeds. 
The great depth of a nest which I have from the col¬ 
lection of Mr. A. Newton, would lead one to suppose 
that it must have been placed in an elevated position, 
and liable to be shaken by the wind. It is composed 
almost altogether of the fine flowering tops of reeds and. 
other grasses an inch thick, bound round outside by 
their stalks and ribband-leaves. 

The eggs are four or five in number. A variety in 
the collection of Mr. Salmon is tinted with light blue, 
sparingly spotted, and a good deal like the variety of the 
egg of the reed warbler at fig. 2. 


124 


SYLVIADiE. 


I NS ESSO RES. 
DENTIROSTRES. 


SYLVIADJE. 


NIGHTINGALE. 

Philomela luscinia. 

PLATE XXXIII. FIG. I. AND II. 

Those who live too far north, or in the southern coun¬ 
ties where its sweet notes are never heard, can have hut 
little conception of the pleasure of which they are de¬ 
prived, if they have never been so fortunate as to listen 
to the song of the Nightingale. I have many a time 
wished that I had yet to hear it for the first time, for 
although that delicious song, when heard in each suc¬ 
ceeding year, produces a feeling of pleasure not to be 
expressed, it can never again excite the same thrill of 
enjoyment as at first. 

Doncaster had long been considered by ornithologists 
as the northern limit of the Nightingale. In the former 
edition of this work, I had the pleasure of extending its 
boundary line a little further, by stating that its song 
had been several times heard within four or five miles of 
York. 

It is stated in the Zoologist by Mr. Robert Dick 
Duncan, that the Nightingale was heard in Calder Wood, 
in Mid Lothian, in the early part of the summer of 1826, 
a remarkably warm season, one which must be well re¬ 
membered, by every entomologist, as lavish in the pro¬ 
duction of many rare insects. 

The singular, and apparently whimsical distribution of 
the Nightingale through the southern counties of Eng- 


XXXHI 












NIGHTINGALE. 


125 


land, is one of those mysteries in natural history which 
has long puzzled the ornithologist, some of those coun¬ 
ties which appear to him, in climate and in everything, 
best suited for their summer’s sojourn, being entirely 
unvisited by them. 

I have never at home, during the daytime, heard the 
song of the Nightingale in such perfection, so loud, so 
clear and joyous, as during a few days’ ramble in the 
beautiful neighbourhood of Cintra; every coppice by 
the road-side, every orange-grove resounded with one 
loud burst of song. 

The Nightingale makes its nest, like the robin red¬ 
breast, upon the ground, amongst the roots of trees, 
upon the stump of a felled tree, or upon a hedge-bank; 
its base is composed of loose herbage, rushes, and dry 
leaves; the nest itself is a thick matting of leaves prin¬ 
cipally oak, of rushes, and grass, lined with a thin cover¬ 
ing of finer grass. The eggs are four or five, occasionally 
six in number; they are sometimes of a uniform colour, 
sometimes slightly mottled all over with a somewhat 
darker brown, and sometimes, though rarely, like the 
egg at fig. 2, from the collection of Mr. Bond ; they are 
usually found towards the end of May or early in June. 

It will be seen that the curious variety of the Night¬ 
ingale’s egg which I have figured, is as unusual in form 
as in colour. I have often observed that uncommon 
varieties of eggs, in colour, are also misshapen, both 
produced by an unhealthy bird. 


SYLVIADiE. 


120 


INSESSORES. s YL VIA DAE. 

DENTIROSTRES. 


BLACKCAP. 

Sylvia atracapilla. 

PLATE XXXIV. FIGS. I. AND II. 

The Blackcap builds its nest about the end of May, 
or beginning of June, in close and tangled thickets, in 
thorns, amongst brambles, and every species of low thick 
brushwood. In our gardens and pleasure-grounds it may 
be found in evergreens, and other thickly-leaved shrubs. 
It is formed outwardly of umbelliferous plants, twisted 
together with spiders’ webs, bits of thread, and wool, 
becoming finer towards the inside, and mixed with the 
stalks and flowering heads of grasses, together with very 
fine roots, and a few hairs. 

Though very slight and pervious, and apparently with¬ 
out the comfort of the thick, mossy, snug-looking nests 
of other birds, it is strong and compact, and in this 
alone differs from the nest of the garden warbler, which 
is more loosely put together, and in some instances formed 
of a larger quantity of materials. 

The eggs of the Blackcap are four or five in number, 
and vary considerably, both in colour and in shape, being 
sometimes a good deal longer than either of the figures 
in the plate, sometimes almost round. The first of these 
figures represents the colouring which is most common ; 
the second, a beautiful variety, which is not infrequent. 
There are many specimens smaller and lighter in colour 
than either of those drawn, and resembling the egg 


XXXTT. 



111 


»v 















BLACKCAP. 


] 27 


which is given as characteristic of those of the garden 
warbler. 

We used at school to find a nest about once in a 
season, in which the eggs were altogether of a beautiful 
rose-colour, probably the produce of a young bird—for 
we always noticed that the nests in which they were 
found were unusually slight, and easily seen through, 
so much so, that we then considered them to belong 
to a different species. This pink variety, which I have 
seen much more beautiful, is represented at fig. 2 ; it is 
I believe peculiar to eggs of the Blackcap, and does not 
occur in those of the garden warbler. 

Mr. Yarrell mentions this variety of the eggs, and 
supposes that the tint may be occasioned by partial in¬ 
cubation. This is not the case, incubation usually having 
the effect of deadening, rather than increasing the colour¬ 
ing of eggs. Last summer I had a nest of the Blackcap 
brought to me, the eggs of which were round and of a 
pure white. 


128 


SYLVIADiE. 


INS ESSO I? ES. SYL VIA DIE. 

DEN T1R 0 ST RES. 


GARDEN WARBLER. 

Sylvia hortensis. 

PLATE XXXIV. FIGS. III. AND IV. 

When illustrating the eggs of the genus Curruca in 
the former edition of this work, it was my belief that 
the eggs of the Garden Warbler, although in some of 
the varieties very closely resembling those of the black¬ 
cap, were usually to be distinguished from them by their 
more beautiful and brighter colouring. 

Mr. Henry Doubleday, of Epping, upon whose autho¬ 
rity I have the utmost reliance, assures me that the re¬ 
verse is more frequently the case; “ that the eggs of 
the Garden Warbler are generally smaller than those of 
the blackcap, and never so bright in colour ; ” but that 
the two often approach each other. I am, however, still 
of opinion that the eggs of the Garden Warbler, as well 
as those of the blackcap, have occasionally the same 
rich colouring. I have selected the eggs figured from 
a large series in the collection of Mr. Bond, taken by 
himself; the beautiful variety at fig. 4, although from 
the nest of the Garden Warbler, may represent both 
species. 

The nest of the Garden Warbler may be found at the 
same season of the year, and in all those places which I 
have mentioned as most likely to contain that of the 
blackcap. It is built, too, of the same materials—urn- 


GARDEN WARBLER. 


129 


belhferous plants and grasses—lined with fine roots and 
a few hairs, but less compactly interwoven. The eggs 
are four or five in number. Mr. Yarrell has found the 
nest of this species “ in a row of peas and pea-sticks in a 
garden, and once amongst some tares in an open field.” 


K 


130 


SYLVIADJE. 


INSESSORES. S YL VIA D/E. 

DENTIROSTRES. 


WHITETHROAT. 

Sylvia cinerea. 

PLATE XXXV. FIGS. I. AND II. 

The eggs of the White throat resemble more nearly 
those of the genus Salicaria, than of the more closely 
allied species of Sylvia; they are, however, very differ¬ 
ent from either, and have a character and colouring about 
them which is peculiar to themselves, and gives them, 
though individually differing a good deal both in size 
and marking, a specific distinction, which, amongst the 
numbers I have seen, could never be mistaken ; they are 
always more or less tinted with green, and usually 
appear as though they were smeared and dirty. Some 
are much rounder than those which I have figured ; some 
are slightly marked, except where the freckles are 
crowded into a zone round the larger end, others, though 
very rarely, are white, slightly marked with greyish 
spots. 

In its nidification the Whitetliroat closely resembles 
the other species of the same genus; the nest, though 
apparently slight and comfortless, is composed of mate¬ 
rials so light, and at the same time so strong, that it is 
much more compact and firm than the more substantial- 
looking structures of the Fringillidag. It is composed 
almost entirely of the stalks of umbelliferous plants, 
bound and tied together with spiders’ webs, and bits of 


tocxv 




/ 





WHITETHROAT. 


131 


wool, and is generally lined with black horse-hair. It 
is usually placed in some of the rank herbage which is 
met with in the ditch of a hedge-bottom ; in a low 
bush; in brambles; or a bunch of nettles which are 
even strong enough to support its weight. The eggs 
are four or five and sometimes six in number. 

In Westmoreland, where the White throat abounds, it 
is known by the name of Split-straw, from the fine straw¬ 
like materials used in the formation of its nest. 


132 


SYLVJADiE. 


INSESSORES. SYL VIA DM. 

DENTIROSTRES. 


LESSER WHITETHROAT. 

Sylvia Curruca. 

PLATE XXXV. FIG. IV. 

The nest of the Lesser Whitethroat is found in situa¬ 
tions similar to that of the common whitethroat; it re¬ 
sembles closely those of the three preceding species, and 
differs from them only in being constructed of rather 
finer materials; it is formed outwardly of umbelliferous 
plants, bound together with spiders’ webs, pieces of 
hemp, or any such like material mixed, rarely, with bits 
of moss ; the lining contains a few roots, but consists 
chiefly of the flowering heads of fine grasses, deprived 
of their seed, in lieu of the stronger stalks of grass of 
which the nests of the other species are composed. The 
eggs bear no resemblance to those of the common white- 
throat, but are a good deal like some varieties of those 
of the blackcap ; they vary little except in size, and in 
all the specimens I have seen, and they have been many, 
have the light ground-colour and clearly-defined mark¬ 
ings of the Plate, and are not, like those of the other 
species, suffused over the surface with uncertain colour¬ 
ing : they are four or five in number, and are usually 
undergoing incubation about the middle of May. 


ORPHEUS WARBLER. 


133 


INSESSORES. 

DEN TIR OS 1'RES. 


SYLVJADjE. 


ORPHEUS WARBLER. 

Sylvia Orpiiea. 

PLATE XXXV. FIG. III. 

I have been induced to figure the egg of this species 
for the same reason that I have introduced that of the 
great sedge warbler, from a single instance of its cap¬ 
ture in this country which I believe to be well authen¬ 
ticated. 

The bird, which is now in the collection of Mr. W. 
M. E. Milner of Nunappleton and was first recorded 
in the <c Zoologist,” was shot by Mr. Simpson during 
the breeding season (July 6th), near the town of 
Wetherby. It is a female, and had been observed by 
him together with its black-headed mate, which was 
the means of attracting his attention by its peculiar 
warble and great resemblance to the well-known black¬ 
cap, and at the same time by its great difference in 
size. Mr. Simpson watched these birds together for 
upwards of a month before he shot the female, having 
no doubt that they were breeding in the neighbourhood, 
though unable to find their nest; being sufficiently ac¬ 
quainted with our common birds to know that this was 
not one of them, it was confided to the care of Mr. 
Graham, a bird-stuffer at York, and being unknown 
to him, was again transferred to my friend Mr. Hancock, 
that he might determine its species. 


J 34 


SYLVIADiE. 


Temminck enumerates several singular localities as the 
nesting-places of this species ; he says that they breed 
in hushes, frequently several of them in the same place; 
they also build in the holes of old walls and ruins, and 
under the eaves of isolated houses, in a heap of stones, 
and amongst rubbish, a habit very different to that of 
other species of Sylvia. 

The egg figured, which is from the collection of Mr. 
Walter, agrees well with those given by Thienemann, 
but is much larger than others which I have seen, said 
also to be the eggs of this species, which are more 
pointed at the smaller end, and have the spots of a deep 
brown chiefly at the larger end; some of these are 
like eggs of the green linnet. 


YELLOW WILLOW WREN, WOOD WARBLER. 


135 


INSESSORES. SYLVIA DJE. 

DENTIROSTRES. 


YELLOW WILLOW WREN, WOOD 

WARBLER. 

Sylvia sibillatrix. 

PLATE XXXVI. FIG. III. 

The Yellow Willow Wren is much more rare 
than the two allied species; its haunts are also different. 
Whilst the other two species are met with in every 
thicket and closely-tangled copse, this species frequents 
woods of a larger growth, and free from the thicker 
brushwood. 

The nest is placed upon the ground in woods, under 
a tuft of grass ; it is, like those of the willow wren 
and chiff-chaff, covered with a dome ; it is, too, like 
them, composed of moss, dried grass, and dead leaves, 
but differs from them always in being lined with fine 
grass and hair, instead of feathers. 

The eggs, which are usually seven in number, are, for 
the most part, similar to the accompanying figure ; 
they are sometimes more oblong in shape, and thickly 
freckled all over with claret-coloured undefined spots. 
I have one, which is sparingly marked, and much like 
eggs of the chiff-chaff, but with larger spots. 

I have often wondered at the difficulty which I have 
always experienced in obtaining eggs of this species, 
as well as those of the chiff-chaff. Neither of them 
are uncommon, especially in the south of England ; 


136 


SYLVIADJE. 


and yet among the many eggs which have come before 
me, amongst which have been hundreds of those of 
the willow warbler, I have very rarely seen those of 
either of the other two species. In Westmoreland, 
after several summers of diligent bird-nesting, their eggs 
were not amongst our spoils. 




XXXYI 






WILLOW WREN. 


137 


I/VS ESSO RES. s YL VIA DJE. 

DENT1R0STRES. 

% 


WILLOW WREN, 

WILLOW WARBLER. 

Sylvia trochilus. 

PLATE XXXVI. PIGS. I. AND II. 

Much as I love all the dear birds of summer, there 
is not one the return of which I have yearly witnessed 
with so much pleasure as that of the Willow Wren; 
and however more highly the rich melody of some of 
the other warblers may he prized, there is a simplicity 
and a sweet cadence about the note of this species, 
which never fails to excite within me feelings of pleasure, 
which none but the lover of nature can either appre¬ 
ciate or understand, but which are to him amongst the 
chief enjoyments of his life. 

The Willow Wren is one of the most abundant of 
the warblers, and almost every wood and copse is en¬ 
livened by its beautiful form and graceful motions: 

“ Thou fairy bird, how I love to trace 
The rapid flight of thy tiny race ! 

For the wild bee does not wave its wing 
More lightly than thine, thou fairy thing!” 

It is, too, an inhabitant of more northern countries; 
and I shall not readily forget the delight I experienced 
on hearing its soft sweet note, whilst seated within the 
Arctic Circle upon one of the bleak isles of Norway. 

The Willow Wren builds its nest upon the ground, 
sometimes in the midst of woods when not thick, but 
more commonly near their margin, or in open places, 


138 


SYLVIADiE. 


or by the side of those grassy drives which are cut 
through them. It may be found in hedge-banks where 
brushwood occurs, as well as amongst the long dry grass 
in young plantations. In shape the nest resembles that of 
the common wren, being arched over, and entered from 
the side ; it is, however, much more fragile, and not easily 
moved entire; it is composed of dry grass and moss, 
with dead leaves, warmly lined with feathers. Amongst 
the many eggs which I have found myself, I have seen 
only the two varieties figured, and in about equal 
numbers; fig. 2 is less freckled than usual: the Messrs. 
Tuke have some which are, however, different, and wdiich, 
in shape and markings, are more like eggs of the tit¬ 
mice. Dr. Neville Wood, in his “British Song Birds,” 
quotes a letter, from Dr. Liverpool, describing the readi¬ 
ness with which the Willow Wren becomes sociable. 
To this I can add a most interesting instance. To 
ascertain beyond doubt the identity of the two varie¬ 
ties of the eggs figured, I had captured, on their nests, 
several of the birds. Amongst these was one which 
I had carried home and confined during the night in 
a large box, and such was its tameness, that when I 
took it out the following morning and would have set 
it at liberty, it seemed to have no wish to leave my 

i 

hand, and would hop about the table at which I was 
sitting, picking up flies which I caught for it. 

In the autumn previous to their departure, the Willow 
Wrens frequent our gardens and orchards where they 
may be seen busily picking insects from the pea-straw 
and other vegetables, the young ones easily distinguished 
by their brighter yellow colouring; sometimes warbling 
a farewell song, but in a tone far different from their 
joyous carol in the spring, and so subdued that it is 
scarcely audible. 


CHIFF CHAFF. 


139 


I NS ESS OR ES. SYLVIA DJE. 

DEN TIROSTRES. 


CHIFF CHAFF. 

Sylvia rufa. 

PLATE XXXVI. FIG. IV. 

However monotonous the voice of the ChifF Chaff 
may sound when mingled with the rich melody of the 
various warblers, there is a time at which it brings with 
it a delightful welcome, when its cheerful sound bursts 
upon the ear as the first notice of the arrival of our 
feathered friends, just as the violet and the primrose— 
harbingers of the “ time of flowers ”—are first rearing 
their beautiful forms upon the cold earth, to tell us 
that the woods will soon again be green, and that the 
chill, joyless winter is about to give place to the delights 
of summer. It comes to us before the insects have left 
their winter hiding-places, when there is not a green 
leaf to cover its graceful form. 

The arrival of the ChifF Chaff usually takes place 
in March; and Dr. Neville Wood informs me that 
he has heard its note as early as the 5th of February. 
Montague likewise mentions January and February as 
its earliest appearance. It is generally sitting its eggs 
towards the end of May. The nest is very similar to 
that of the willow warbler; it is composed of dried 
grass, dead leaves, and moss; is covered with a dome, 
and profusely lined with feathers; it is, too, like the 
nest of that species, placed, most frequently perhaps, 


140 


SYLVIADiE. 


upon the ground, but unlike it, is, in many instances, 
raised above it, in a low bush. Mr. Henry Doubleday 
— I copy the information from Mr. Yarrell’s “Birds”— 
found a nest of this species formed externally of dead 
leaves, placed in dead fern, at least two feet from the 
ground. I once found one at the same height in some 
ivy against a garden-wall. The eggs are usually seven; 
and though in lightly-coloured varieties, much like some 
of the more distinctly spotted eggs of the willow war¬ 
bler, are mostly marked with spots of a much deeper 
hue. An egg in the collection of Mr. Bond, is white, 
with the exception of some large purple spots near the 
broader end. 


MELODIOUS WILLOW WARBLER. 


141 


hVSESSO RES. 
DENTIE OS TEES. 


SYLVIA DJE. 


MELODIOUS WILLOW WARBLER. 

Sylvia Hippolais. 

PLATE XXXVI. FIG. V. 

For the first notice of this species as a bird new to 
Britain, I have to apply to the pages of the “ Zoologist,” 
where it is recorded by Dr. Plomley, that the melodious 
Willow Wren, the true Hippolais of Continental authors, 
was killed at Eythorne, near Dover, on the 15th of 
June, 1848. 

It is abundant in Holland, and on the banks of the 
Rhine; its song is, I think, the sweetest carol I have 
ever heard, equalling, if not surpassing, that of the 
nightingale. 

Although in every way most closely allied to the 
other willow wrens, it differs from them strangely in its 
nidification, and the colour of its eggs. Its nest is 
more like that of a Salicaria than of a Sylvia. It is 
without a dome, and, instead of being placed upon the 
ground, is frequently at a considerable elevation. Mr. 
Rennie found one near Bonn, high up in the branches 
of a lilac tree. Naumann and Buhle, in their work 
on birds’ eggs, say * that the nest is placed in the 
forked branches of lower trees, and on bushes more 
open than usual; also on side branches of the thinner 

* I have to thank an old friend, the Rev. James Smith, of Monquhitter, for 
this translation from the German, which I have copied from the “ Zoologist.” 


142 


SYLVIADiE. 


trunks of trees, and more seldom on higher and slender 
branches at a distance from the trunk ; also in gardens, 
in the tops of plum and other fruit trees, or in copses 
three to fifteen feet high, but not in thorns nor in dead 
hedges. The kindness of Mr. A. Newton has given me 
the pleasure of describing the beautiful nest of this 
bird from the original; as mentioned by others, it has 
much the appearance of a finch’s nest in the greater 
quantity of materials with which it is constructed; but 
these materials are chiefly the same as those used by 
the other warblers, and are so light that the nest before 
me, with its walls an inch thick, would travel post for 
a penny. It is composed chiefly of umbelliferous plants 
and fine dry grass, strongly bound together by a quan¬ 
tity of wool, mixed with fine shavings from the bark 
of the birch tree, and bits of moss; the inside is of 
the flowering tops of grasses without the seed, roots 
of the finest kind and a few hairs. Outwardly the 
nest has much the appearance of that of the chaffinch, 
studded over with bits of white bark instead of lichens. 

Mr. Rennie thus describes the nest found by him in 
Germany. “ The frame-work is rather thick, made of 
dry grass stems, sewing thread, fine wood shavings, birch 
bark and small pieces of linen rag. The inside is very 
neatly lined with roots, hair, a few feathers and small 
locks of wool. 

The eggs are four or five in number, and, though 
very different from our other warblers, have the same 
purple spots as those of the chiff chaff and similarly 
distributed. As far as I have seen them they appear 
to be very constant in their colour and marking. 














xxxvn 


■ 





DARTFORD WARBLER. 


143 


INSESSOR ES. SYL VIA D JE. 

DEN TIR OS TRES. 


DARTFORD WARBLER. 

Melizophilus Proyincialis. 

PLATE XXXVII. 

4 

The Dartford Warbler is one of those birds which, 
although not unfrequent in a few localities, is neverthe¬ 
less difficult to procure. 

It breeds at no great distance from London; is plen¬ 
tiful near Godaiming, and may be met with near Lynd- 
hurst in the New Forest. Colonel Montague, who gives 
the following narrative, observed them near Kingsbridge 
upon a large furze common; he had watched three 
pairs of these birds on the 16th of July, two pairs of 
which, he says, “ had young, evidently, by their extreme 
clamour, and by frequently appearing with food in 
their bills.” 

“ On the 17th my researches were renewed, and after 
watching for three hours the motions of another pair, 
I discovered the nest with three young ; it was placed 
among the dead branches of the thickest furze, about 
two feet from the ground, slightly fastened between the 
main stems, not in a fork. On the same day a pair were 
observed to be busied carrying materials for building, 
and, by concealing myself in the bushes, I soon dis¬ 
covered the place of nidification, and upon examination 
found the nest was just begun. As early as the 19th 
the nest appeared to be finished, but it possessed only 


144 


SYLVIADiB. 


one egg on the 21st, and on the 26th it contained 
four.” 

“ The nest is composed of dry vegetable stalks, par¬ 
ticularly goose-grass, mixed with the tender dead branches 
of furze, not sufficiently hardened to become prickly; 
these are put together in a very loose manner, and in¬ 
termixed very sparingly with wool. In one of the nests 
was a single partridge’s feather. The lining is equally 
sparing, for it consists only of a few dry stalks of some 
fine species of carex, without a single leaf of the plant. 
This flimsy structure, which the eye pervades in all 
parts, much resembles the nest of the white-throat.” 
Two of these nests, each containing four or five eggs, 
are in the collection of Mr. Bond, and to him I owe 
the pleasure I derive from being able to describe this 
beautiful piece of workmanship myself. It is very 
different from those described by Montague, and is com¬ 
posed outwardly of umbelliferous plants, and moss, and 
bits of wool, exquisitely lined with the finest stalks and 
flowering tops of grasses without the seeds and as 
fine as the few horse-hairs mixed with them. It is 
an inch thick, and compactly built. 

The eggs of the Dartford Warbler are very difficult 
to obtain. I have seen them in few collections, and 
was indebted to the kindness of Mr. Burney for spe¬ 
cimens when busy with the former edition of this 
work; he took them near Oxford, after shooting the 
female from the nest, which was closely concealed in 
a thick covering of furze, and was composed of um¬ 
belliferous plants, and a small portion of moss, and was, 
as stated by Montague, a good deal like that of the 
white throat. 

The eggs are four or five in number, and bear some 
resemblance to those of the whitethroat, as well as those 


DARTFORD WARBLER. 


145 


of the reed-warbler; they differ greatly in size ; one 
of those in the nest now by me is not unlike eggs 
of the grasshopper warbler ; the spots are all crowded 
together at the larger end, the rest of the egg being 
very minutely sprinkled over with rufous dots. 


L 


14G 


SYLYJADJE. 


INSESSORES. SYLVIA D/E. 

DENTIROSTRES. 


GOLDEN-CRESTED WREN. 

Regulus auricapillus. 

PLATE XXXVIII. FIGS. I. AND II. 

This, the least of our British Birds, is very generally 
dispersed throughout the country, and may he met with 
from the most northerly part of Scotland and its islands, 
to the southern extremity of England; we saw it also 
whilst travelling through the pine forests of Norway. In 
activity and habit, when in search of insects, it resembles 
much the various species of titmice, and may be seen, 
like them, and frequently in company with the cole tit¬ 
mouse, suspended from the branches of trees in al] those 
graceful and beautiful attitudes so peculiar to that tribe 
of birds. Its chief resort is in fir plantations, and its 
nest is usually placed in a tree of that species. It is 
most commonly suspended beneath the sheltering branches 
of the spruce fir-tree attached to some of the slender 
drooping twigs; of a nest thus suspended Mr. Yar- 
rell has given a nice figure in a vignette. It is sometimes 
built upon the upper surface of the branch ; and I have 
also seen it, but rarely, placed against the trunk of the 
tree upon the base of a diverging branch and at an ele¬ 
vation of from twelve to twenty feet above the ground; 
here the nests are not uncommon in the cedars which 
adorn our neighbourhood, and during the last summer 
I had the pleasure of watching these tiny birds from the 
commencement to the last finish of a beautiful nest which 


xxxvm 











\ 

















GOLDEN-CRESTED WREN. 


147 


was placed in a branch of one of these trees only a few 
feet from my window. I have also seen a nest which 
was built in the centre of a low juniper and very little 
more than a foot above the ground. The nest is composed 
of the softest species of mosses interwoven with wool, a 
few grasses, dead leaves, and spiders’ webs: with the latter 
material, together with the wool, it is twisted round and 
made fast to the branches of the tree from which it is 
suspended. It is lined with a quantity of feathers, those 
of the small birds being very appropriately selected to 
form the interior of this tiny dwelling. The eggs vary 
from seven to eight which is the number most frequent, 
to ten or even eleven; their commonest colouring is 
shown by the first figure, the second represents a variety 
not uncommon. 

I have found the eggs of this species fresh in May and 
June ; Mr. Selby states that he has known full-fledged 
young ones as early as the third week in April. 

The nest, which I have mentioned above from the low 
juniper, contained eggs of a very singular variety, which, 
instead of being, as they usually are, of an oblong form 
and closely freckled all over with rust-coloured markings, 
were, like those of the willow wren, nearly round, and, 
like them and eggs of the marsh titmouse, sparingly 
spotted with red-brown. To satisfy my doubts both as 
to the nest and eggs the bird was caught and examined. 



148 


SYLYIADJ1. 


IWSESSORES. S YL VIA DIE. 

DENTIROSTBES. 


FIRE-CRESTED WREN. 

Regulus ignicapillus. 

PLATE XXXVIII. FIG. III. 

The existence of the present species in this country 
was first made known by the Rev. L. Jenyns; other 
specimens have since been secured, and will most likely 
continue to be met with now that the separate identity 
of the two species has been pointed out. The Rev. E. 
H. Browne has watched this species during the summer 
near his residence at Bio Norton, in Norfolk, and has no 
doubt it breeds there. 

In its nidification and number of its eggs the Fire- 
crested Wren closely resembles the preceding species. 
Mr. Yarrell mentions that M. Vieillot found a nest of 
this bird near Rouen, which was suspended under the 
branch of a tree like that of the other species, and con¬ 
tained five eggs. 



XXXIX. 


I I 


I 



IV 


n i 






GREAT TITMOUSE. 


149 


I NS ESSO RES. PARI DJE. 

DENTIROSTRES. 


GREAT TITMOUSE, 

OX-EYE. 

Parus major. 

PLATE XXXIX. FIG. I. 

There are none of our birds to which we are more 
indebted for amusement and companionship than the 
Titmice. They are with us the year through and 
supply the place of the truant summer-visitors which 
have left us. Although deprived of song, there is still 
something most agreeable in their gay, cheerful, and 
oft-repeated notes. The constant chatter of the blue- 
cap, the deep bass voice of the marsh titmouse, and 
even the monotonous spring-pipe of the greater tit¬ 
mouse, are all sounds highly pleasing to the lovers of 
nature. In activity and the beauty and gracefulness 
of their actions they are surpassed by none; no place 
is hidden from their researches; they are perfect moun¬ 
tebanks, and it seems to matter little to them whether 
their heads or their heels are uppermost; dancing at 
one moment in antics round the branches of a tree and 
at the next hanging suspended from its most slender 
twigs. They are some of the most prolific and conse¬ 
quently most numerous of our British Birds. 

The Great Titmouse breeds in the holes of trees: 
Mr. Yarrell says it will also sometimes make use of 
the deserted nest of a crow or magpie for that pur¬ 
pose. The nest is composed of moss and feathers, with 


1 50 


PARJM. 


some hair; its eggs are, however, sometimes laid upon 
the fine particles of the rotten wood alone ; they are 
from seven to eleven in number and are exceedingly 
similar in all respects to the eggs of the nuthatch ; 
they vary only in the number and intensity of the 
markings. 



BLUE TITMOUSE. 


151 


IN’S ESS ORES. 
BEN TIR OS TREti. 


PARIDJE. 


BLUE TITMOUSE. 

BLUECAP, TOMTIT, BILLY-BITER. 

Parus CLERULEUS. 

PLATE XXXIX. FIG. II. 

Our well-known friend the Bluecap is the most nume¬ 
rous of his kind, and notwithstanding the absurd and 
cruel clamour that has been raised against him, and 
although he has long been outlawed, and a price set 
upon his guiltless head, he is of a race still sufficiently 
numerous to rid us of countless insects, and to heap 
benefits upon us in return for all the persecution that 
he has met with. He is a brave little fellow ; and when 
the severity of winter has driven him, together with 
his companion the great titmouse, to seek for shelter 
under our walls and evergreens and he is pinched with 
hunger, he will boldly enter any trap that may be set to 
catch him. It is thus in our gardens that he may be 
seen, closely prying into every corner, and diligently de¬ 
stroying thousands of insects in their winter quarters ; and 
though we may follow him in his search, and see the 
buds of promise from our trees strewed behind him, he 
has been destroying them to get at the lurking enemy 
within, which, had it been permitted to live till the fol¬ 
lowing spring, would have wrought us tenfold evil. 

Nothing that other birds will eat seems to come amiss 
to him; he is very fond of a bit of carrion; and in 


152 


PAEIDiE. 


order to humour his penchant , I have often nailed small 
pieces of raw meat against the trees in winter, and 
amused myself when storm-stayed in the house, by 
watching his enjoyment. Obstinacy is a remarkable 
trait in his character, and when he has once set his 
mind upon some particular spot in which to make his 
nest, he is only to be driven from it by force and oft- 
repeated failure. I remember one, which had taken a 
fancy to build its nest in the hole under the handle of 
the garden pump, and it was not till its labour had been 
destroyed for many successive days that it abandoned 
the attempt. When once in charge of his eggs or young 
ones, he will stoutly defend them against all intruders, 
first giving you warning that he is on the defensive by 
a snake-like hissing noise, and if you obtrude your 
fingers, by biting them with all his might; and should 
you cruelly deprive him of the object of all his care, 
and forcibly eject him from his home, he will still return 
to its deserted walls for many days to deplore his loss. 
Of this his attachment to some particular spot, Mr. 
Heysham, of Carlisle, has kindly supplied me with the 
following most interesting instance. 

u A few years ago, when upon an entomological ex¬ 
cursion, wishing to examine the decayed stump of a tree 
which was broken to pieces for that purpose, and the 
fragments dispersed to a considerable distance by a severe 
blow, a Blue Titmouse was found sitting upon fourteen 
eggs, in a small cavity of the root, and notwithstanding 
the above severe shock, it remained immovable, till for¬ 
cibly taken off the nest.” 

“ Earl y this spring a pair had taken possession of a 
hole in a tree where the pied-flycatcher had regularly 
built for the last four years, and, being anxious it should 
continue to do so, the nest and eggs were removed, the 


BLUE TITMOUSE. 


153 


latter, to the number of sixteen ; in defiance of all these 
annoyances the female still kept possession of the hole, 
where I saw it repeatedly afterwards for several weeks, 
sitting upon the bare wood.” 

It will be seen, too, by these narratives that the Blue 
Titmouse is the most prolific of our birds. 

Until I had the authority which I have just quoted, I 
have always been accustomed to receive with jealousy 
and caution any of those reports in which some seem so 
much to delight, regarding the number of eggs laid by 
some of our smaller birds, never, in pretty extensive 
bird-nesting experience, having once met with the nest 
of any of our Insessorial birds containing more than 
eight eggs, and I think it most probable that when the 
eggs are more numerous, they are the produce of more 
than one bird; and this supposition is supported by the 
observations of Mr. Horsfall with regard to the long¬ 
tailed titmouse. 

The Blue Titmouse builds its nest of grass, moss, hair, 
and feathers; it is placed in the holes of trees and old 
walls, and small though the bird be, it is not easy sometimes 
to credit one’s sight, through how very small an aperture 
it can pass. The eggs are most frequently seven or eight, 
although at times amounting to the unusual number of 
sixteen. 


154 


PAIUDJL 


hVSESSORES. 
DEN TIROSTRES. 


PARI DAL 


CRESTED TITMOUSE. 

Parus cristatus. 

PLATE XXXIX. FIG. III. 

The Crested Titmouse lias now for some years 
been met with breeding in several of the pine forests of 
Scotland. 

Mr. Hancock, of Newcastle, who has kindly sent me 
the following information with the egg which I have 
figured, found several of their nests, during an orni¬ 
thological excursion in Scotland, in the woods of Mur- 
rayshire. “About the middle of April they were 
only in process of building, but by the 6th of May, 
when the nests were taken, the eggs were five in 
number; whether this is the full compliment or not 
I am not prepared to say. The nests were all placed 
in similar situations in holes of old stumps of trees 
from three to six feet above the ground. The nest 
is composed of rabbits’ or hares’ down, a little moss, 
and a few feathers. At first sight it appears to be com¬ 
posed entirely of down, but on close examination the 
materials are seen to be as above.” 

In its actions and habits the Crested Titmouse re¬ 
sembles the blue titmouse so closely, that, when in the 
branches of a tree above your head, it is only by the 
crest that you can distinguish it. It is alike noisy, and 
always on the move. 

I have watched them for hours, as, in busy pursuit of 


CRESTED TITMOUSE. 


155 


insects, they thronged the branches of some noble En- 
glish-looking oak-trees, which adorn the outskirts of the 
forest at Kissingen, in Bavaria. They were equally 
abundant amongst the pine-trees; and although it was 
too late to obtain their eggs, I had the pleasure of dis¬ 
covering one of their nests and of thus learning some¬ 
thing of their nidification. 

When trees are felled in the forest, their trunks are 
left standing about two feet above the ground, and in 
the decayed wood of one of these a hole was scooped to 
contain the nest of which I have spoken, just such a 
situation as would have been chosen by the cole-tit¬ 
mouse. The nest was of dry grass and moss, and lined 
with feathers, and contained five full-fledged young ones 
which scrambled out of the nest as we began to examine 
them. This species is said to lay from seven to ten eggs. 
Mr. Hancock’s nests each contained no more than five 
eggs, and the one mentioned above only five young ones. 


150 


PARIDiE. 


INS ESSO RES. 
DEN TIR 0 ST RES. 


PARI DM. 


COLE TITMOUSE. 

Parus ater. 

PLATE XXXIX. FIG. IV. 

The Cole Titmouse breeds, like all the preceding 
species, in the holes of trees, but with this difference, 
that the hole chosen by it is usually at a less elevation 
from the ground than that adopted by the others. It 
seems indeed to prefer just those places in which its 
young must be exposed to the greatest destruction, holes 
which are very near the ground, or even below its sur¬ 
face. In this neighbourhood the Cole Titmouse is more 
abundant than I have ever seen it elsewhere. For seve¬ 
ral years in succession a pair of them have reared their 
young ones in a hole at the base of a venerable oak tree, 
and Mr. A. Newton tells me, that, as far as he has ob¬ 
served them, they seem to prefer a subterranean nursery 
for their young, and that he has known the nest upwards 
of a foot below the surface of the ground in the decayed 
stump of a tree which had been cut down to a level with 
the earth. Its nest is sometimes built, as mentioned by 
Mr. Selby, in the entrance of a mouse-hole. It is com¬ 
posed of moss, wool, hair, and feathers. Mr. Salmon has 
observed that the Cole Titmouse seems to have a great 
partiality for rabbits’ fur, with which it always lines its 
nest, when in the neighbourhood of a warren, and even, 
when at a distance from one. The eggs are from six to 
eight in number. 




XL 





MARSH TITMOUSE. 


157 


INSESSORES. PARIDJE. 

DEN TIR OS TRES. 


MARSH TITMOUSE. 

Parus palustris. 

PLATE XL. FIG. I. 

Considerable pains is taken by the Marsh Titmouse 
in hollowing out a suitable cavity for its nest; whilst 
excavating which, Colonel Montagu has watched it care¬ 
fully conveying away the chips to some distance in its 
bill. It is, as its name implies, fond of low marshy 
districts, and, as Mr. Yarrell observes, usually makes 
choice of a pollard and decayed willow, in which to rear 
its young ones. The nest is made with more care than 
those of the preceding, and is formed of moss, grass, 
and lined with the soft down of the willow. Mr. Gurney 
has known this species to make its nest like the cole tit, 
in a rat’s hole, which was in a closely-mown lawn. 

The eggs are seven or eight in number; they resemble 
very closely those of the blue titmouse ; the spots are, 
however, usually larger, and the form of the egg is 
rounder and often much like those of the willow-wren. 


158 


PARIDiE. 


INS ESS ORES. 
DENTIROSTRES. 


PARIDjE. 


LONG-TAILED TITMOUSE. 

BOTTLE TIT. 

Parus CAUDATUS. 

PLATE XL. FIG. II. 

Amongst the many curious and ingeniously-con¬ 
structed nests, which we have seen and admired as the 
workmanship of the bright birds of other climes, there 
is not one which can surpass in beauty that of our own 
native Long-tailed Titmouse. It is in every way per¬ 
fect as the safeguard of the tiny beings that are to be 
reared under its protecting roof and fostered by its 
warmth, covered in and defended as it is against every 
wind that blows, and formed of the softest materials. 
Its exterior is of green moss closely and compactly 
woven together throughout with wool and the nests 
and webs of spiders, and studded and coated over out¬ 
side like the nest of the chaffinch with pieces of grey 
lichen; its inside is so thickly lined with feathers as to 
obtain for it, in some parts of the country, the name 
of feather-poke. Mr. Selby, when describing the nest 
of this species, speaks of a double hole, one for ingress, 
the other for egress, as if a common occurrence. I 
have never lost an opportunity of examining a nest, and 
have only once seen the second hole, and the nest 1 
speak of was shown as a curiosity in Mr. Empson’s 
museum at Bath. The holes were larger than usual, and 
opposite each other. 


159 


LONG-TAILED TITMOUSE. 

I have never met with the Long-tailed Titmouse so 
common, or seen them so often as to destroy the novelty 
and interest which their appearance never fails to ex¬ 
cite, as they come flitting across my path in rapid suc¬ 
cession. 

They are most sociable little beings, and except during 
the breeding-season, are rarely seen alone: united in 
families during the winter months, they may be seen 
sometimes passing from hedge to hedge, following each 
other in a long string, in restless and scarcely-interrupted 
flight. 

With the exception of the species of Regulus the 
eggs of the Long-tailed Titmouse are smaller than those 
of any other British bird ; they are from seven to ten, 
and sometimes as many as sixteen in number. I state this 
upon authority which I believe to be good, never having 
myself seen more than seven in the same nest. The 
spots are sometimes altogether absent from some speci¬ 
mens or scarcely visible. 

Upon finding the nest of almost every bird, we may 
predict with tolerable certainty the number of eggs it 
will contain, provided the bird has done laying; but 
with the blue and Long-tailed Titmouse it is far differ¬ 
ent ; their eggs vary from seven or eight, to twice that 
number, and even more ; I have found the nest of each 
of them with seven eggs only, and hard sitten, and I 
believe this to be the greatest number laid by one bird ; 
and in confirmation of my opinion I copy the following 
curious account by Mr. Horsfall, in the “ Zoologist.” 
“ Mr. Yarrell, in his account of this bird, states the 
number of eggs to be ten or twelve, and occasionally 
a larger number: I suspect where the greater number 
is found, there will be more than one pair of birds at¬ 
tached to the same nest. I have known several instances 


160 


PAROLE. 


where a considerable number of birds have had the same 
nest in common. In one instance there were nine, and 
I found the nest whilst the birds were lining it with 
feathers, and if I remember rightly, most of them were 
engaged in conveying the feathers. During the time of 
incubation two usually sat on the eggs, the number of 
which I never discovered, for fear of disturbing the nest, 
which was built in a very singular position, being placed 
in the fork of a large oak tree. I assisted in capturing 
five of the parent birds, belonging to another nest, whilst 
feeding their young, and two or more were left behind.” 

The nest of this species is placed most frequently, 
perhaps, in the centre of a thick bush, not uncommonly 
in whin or furze. I have seen it, however, in a very 
different situation, far from the ground, upon the main 
branches of the oak; and I suspect that it might be 
more frequently met with there than elsewhere, were it 
not from the great difficulty in discovering it. 

In each of the instances in which I have found it, it 
was by having my attention directed to the spot by the 
frequent flight of the birds in that direction, and so 
closely did the nest resemble a portion of the tree, that 
it was not detected till I had seen the birds go inside; 
upon climbing to the spot I found that the nest was 
built upon one of the main boughs which the base of it 
partly spanned, without any support from the smaller 
branches. 


BEARDED TITMOUSE. 


161 


INSESSORES. 

DENTJROSTRES. 


PA RID/E. 


BEARDED TITMOUSE. 

Calamophilus biarmicus. 

PLATE XL. FIG. III. 

The Bearded Titmouse is either so sparingly dis¬ 
persed in most parts of the country, or is, in those fenny 
districts where more abundant, so difficult to approach, 
that but little is known of its habits, except by those 
who for that purpose have made a visit to its retreats, 
which are chiefly in the marshy districts of the counties 
of Norfolk, Suffolk, Huntingdon, Cambridge, and Lin¬ 
coln. 

Never having myself had the pleasure of seeing it in 
its native haunts, I copy the narrative of an acute ob¬ 
server. Mr. Hoy thus writes in the pages of the “ Maga¬ 
zine of Natural History:”—“ The borders of the large 
pieces of fresh water in Norfolk, called Broads, particu¬ 
larly Hickling and Horsey Broads, are the favourite 
places of resort of this bird; indeed it is to be met with 
in that neighbourhood wherever there are reeds in any 
quantity, with fenny land adjoining. I have found them 
numerous during the breeding-season on the skirts of 
Whittlesea, and they are not uncommon in the fenny 
districts of Lincolnshire. It begins building in the end 
of April. The nest is composed on the outside with the 
dead leaves of reed and sedge, intermixed with a few 
pieces of grass, and invariably lined with the top of the 
reed, somewhat in the manner of the nest of the reed-wren, 


M 


162 


PARIDiE. 


but not so compact in the interior ; it is generally placed 
in a tuft of coarse grass, or rushes near the ground, on 
the margin of the dykes in the fen ; also sometimes fixed 
among the reeds that are broken down, but never sus¬ 
pended between the stems; the eggs vary in number 
from four to six, rarely seven.” Mr. Yarrell says: “ A 
few years since I obtained two nests from the parish of 
Horsey. These were both placed near the ground, being 
sustained only an inch or two above the surface by the 
strength of the stems of the coarse grass upon which they 
were fixed. Each nest was composed entirely of dried 
bents, the finer ones forming the lining.” 








XL I. 



111 


IV 




/ 







PIED WAGTAIL. 


103 


/ NSESSORES. MOT AC ILLI D/E. 

DENTIROSTRES. 


PIED WAGTAIL. 

Motacilla Yarrellii. 

PLATE XLI. FIGS. I. AND II. 

Although not at present prepared myself to adopt as 
distinct species the two Pied Wagtails of Mr. Gould, I 
have yet felt unwilling to reject the name proposed by 
him as a tribute to Mr. Yarrell, since it may yet he 
proved more satisfactorily that Mr. Gould’s species are 
more than varieties. I have, therefore, figured eggs of 
both birds, since they are believed by many Ornitholo¬ 
gists to be distinct. 

The Pied Wagtail builds its nest in the holes of 
walls, bridges, and out-houses, and on the broken banks 
of rivers upon the ground. Mr. Yarrell says that it is 
frequently fixed in the side of a woodstack or hayrick, 
and occasionally occupies a cavity in a peat stack, or 
wall of turf sod. 

Mr. Jesse mentions a remarkable instance of a bird of 
this species, which built its nest in one of the workshops 
belonging to Mr. Cox of Taunton, and, although the 
room was occupied by braziers, and the noise loud and 
incessant, yet in this strange place did the old birds per¬ 
severe in hatching their young ones. 

The nest of the Pied Wagtail is composed of roots and 
grasses, lined with finer roots and hair. 

The eggs, which are from four to five in number, vary 

m 2 


164 


MOTACILLIDtE. 


very considerably both in size and colour. Fig. 1, which 
is most characteristic of the species, scarcely differs 
from eggs of Savi’s warbler. Fig. 2, which is less com¬ 
mon, would with difficulty be distinguished from eggs of 
the house-sparrow. 


165 


WHITE WAGTAIL. 


INSESS OR ES. 
DENTIROSTRES. 


MO TA CILL ID JE. 


WHITE WAGTAIL. 

Motacilla alba. 

PLATE XLI. FIGS. III. AND IV. 

The White Wagtail, the M. alba of Linnaeus, and 
the common pie-bald wagtail of the Continent, is not an 
uncommon visitant of this country, where it also remains 
to breed. That it is specifically distinct from M. Yarrellii , 
I greatly doubt. There is nothing in the appearance of 
its typical eggs by which they can be known from those 
of our more common bird. The most characteristic eggs 
of both are thickly freckled throughout with minute 
spots and streaks of grey or brown, the eggs of both 
differ much in size ; some of those of the White Wagtail 
sent from Sweden by Mr. Wolley, are one-third les£ than 
those I have figured, whilst other specimens, kindly sent 
me by Mr. Carter of Manchester, are very large ; the one 
drawn at fig. 3, with three others from the same nest, is 
not unlike eggs of the green linnet, and differs from any 
eggs I have seen of M. Yarrellii . Mr. Carter caught the 
female upon the nest, that he has sent me, which was 
placed in a reed stack on the fen near Whittlesea Mere 
where he saw the birds in great numbers for two succes¬ 
sive summers. He has also seen them near Manchester, 
and observed about a dozen at a time in a potato field 
near Conway. He has generally met with them in 
ploughed fields, and rarely by the side of water. He 
says :—“ I have also seen them at Turton, a small village 


166 


MOTACILLIDiE. 


between Bolton and Blackburn, and though there is a 
large lake of water in the neighbourhood in which I 
have frequently fished, I never saw one of these birds 
by its edge, but frequently the pied.” 

Mr. Carter’s nest is ill constructed, composed of a large 
quantity of very coarse grass and roots, and lined with 
wool and hair mixed together. A nest from Holland, 
sent me by Mr. A. Newton, is much more symmetrical. 
Outwardly it is composed of the stalks of plants, dry 
grasses, bits of moss, and a large quantity of fine roots, 
followed inwardly by wool, and then thickly lined with 
hair; the central cavity is large. 



XLir. 



GREY WAGTAIL. 


167 


I NS ESS O RES. 
DENT I ROST RES. 


MOT AC ILIA DJE, 


GREY WAGTAIL. 

Motacilla boarula. 

PLATE XLII. FIG. I. 

The nest of the Grey Wagtail may he found in most 
of the situations chosen by the pied wagtail; in an old 
wall or bridge near a stream of water, hut is more fre¬ 
quently met with upon the ground than that of the pied 
species. In its materials it is also nearly similar to the 
last, being composed of dry grass and roots, with some¬ 
times a little moss or wool, and lined with hair. 

The Grey Wagtail is, comparatively, a rare bird, and 
is chiefly confined to the north of England during the 
breeding-season. I have taken its nest and eggs in West¬ 
moreland ; from Mr. ITeysham, of Carlisle, I have others ; 
and also—together with a nest beautifully lined with 
white hair only—from Mr. Leyland, of Halifax, who 
meets with them in his own neighbourhood every year. 

This beautiful bird is very abundant in Madeira; I 
used to meet with it everywhere upon the margin of the 
numerous levadas, or water-courses, by which the country 
is intersected for the irrigation of the vineyards. 

The eggs of this species are usually very slightly 
coloured, but are sometimes much darker than the Plate. 
They are usually four or five in number, but occasionally 
extend to six. 


168 


MOTACILLIDyE. 


/ iVSESSORES. MOTACILLIDJE. 

dentirohir.es. 


GREY-HEADED YELLOW WAGTAIL. 

Motacilla flava. 

PLATE XLII. FIG. II. 

Since the marks of difference which distinguish this 
species from the common yellow wagtail, with which we 
are so familiar, were first pointed out by Mr. Gould, 
several specimens have been met with in this country. 

My friend Mr. Henry Doubleday was the first to give 
it a place as a British bird, since which others have been 
killed near London, in Suffolk, Northumberland, and in 
Scotland. 

This species, being the true Motacilla flava of the Con¬ 
tinental naturalists, must retain the name. It is, there¬ 
fore, proposed that we should for the future know our 
Yellow Wagtail, which has become familiar to us under 
the name of M. flava , by that of Motacilla Rayi. 

To the late Mr. Hoy I am indebted for a nest, and 
a large series of the eggs of this species collected by 
him on the Continent, together with the following in¬ 
formation :— 

“ The M. flava arrives about the middle of April, and 
is then seen following the plough in search of insects. It 
differs from the yellow wagtail in its breeding-places; 
whilst our species most commonly makes its nest in dry 
situations in corn-fields, the continental species prefers 
low wet lands, placing its nest upon the ground in 
marshes, by the side of ditches in meadows, on the 


GliEY-HEADED YELLOW WAGTAIL. 


169 


borders of inland pools and meres, and often on the 
boggy parts of heaths.” 

Whenever we noticed this species in Norway, and we 
did so in several instances, it was always upon heaths and 
marshes so wet and boggy, that it was with difficulty we 
could explore them. 

The nest of the Grey-headed Yellow Wagtail is formed 
of coarse grass, and those mosses which grow in wet situa¬ 
tions, strengthened by pieces of heath, and lined with 
fine grass and roots, moss and hair. 

Some of the eggs scarcely differ from those of our 
yellow wagtail; they, however, go through a greater 
variety of colouring, and are frequently much lighter 
than the figure, and sometimes a little darker. 


170 


MOTACILLIDiE. 


INSESSOEES. MOTACILLIDJE. 

DEN TIROS TRES. 


RAY’S WAGTAIL. 

YELLOW WAGTAIL. 

Motacilla Rayi. 

PLATE XLII. PIG. III. 

The Yellow Wagtail usually builds its nest upon 
tlie ground, in fields of peas, or green corn, or on a 
naked fallow. I have found it, too, upon a ledge of earth 
on the bank of a river, and in the hole of a wall by 
the side of water. The nest is composed of dry grasses, 
roots, bits of moss or wool, and is lined with the finer 
grasses and roots and a few hairs. Mr. Newton tells me 
that nests of this species vary much in their construc¬ 
tion ; that “ of two nests taken on the same day and 
within a few yards of each other, one is composed of 
green moss and grass, lined with rabbit’s down, the other 
entirely of grass, and lined with fine roots.” The eggs 
are commonly four or five in number, occasionally six; 
they are usually somewhat less than the eggs of the grey 
wagtail which they sometimes resemble ; they are more 
like those of the grey-headed yellow wagtail, and it would 
be very difficult to identify them if once mixed with eggs 
of the sedge-warbler which they closely resemble in 
colour, as well as in being usually marked with a black 
waved line across the larger end. 





XLIII 


i 





/ 

V 




/ 






TREE PIPIT. 


171 


INSESSORES. ANTHIDJE. 

DENTIROSTRES. 


TREE PIPIT. 

Anthus arboreus. 

PLATE XLIII. 

Amongst our land birds there is no species the eggs of 
which present so many, or such distinct varieties as those 
of the Tree Pipit. No one would at first believe them 
to be eggs of the same species ; and it was not till I had 
captured the bird upon each of the varieties, and also 
received them from Mr. H. Doubleday similarly attested, 
that I felt satisfactorily convinced upon the subject. 

Of the varieties figured, all are easily procured. I 
have taken them all in abundance when I was at school. 
The first figure is the most common. 

In woody countries the Tree Pipit is very abundant, 
especially in Devonshire, Somersetshire, and some parts 
of Cumberland; differing in this its choice from the very 
closely-assimilated species the titlark, which, though it 
may be met with in the more cultivated and woody dis¬ 
tricts, is far more abundant on moors and open heaths, 
where it is followed by the cuckoo. 

The nest of this species is composed chiefly of dry grass, 
mixed with moss, lined with finer grasses, and sometimes 
a few hairs. It is placed upon the ground, rarely far 
distant from trees or brushwood, and is frequently found 
in woods and plantations by the side of a drive or foot- 


172 


ANTHULE. 


path. Mr. Neville Wood, in his hook of “British Song 
Birds,” mentions an instance, the only one of which I 
have heard, of its having been found in a low bush. 

The favourite resort of the Tree Pipit is a grassy bank 
on the margin of a wood, especially if ornamented by a 
few single trees on the branches of which it delights to 
perch. In such a situation you are sure to find its nest 
and eggs, if towards the end of May, or during the month 
of June; the eggs are four or five in number, and in 
their spotted varieties seem to represent and form a con¬ 
necting link with those of the buntings. 





XL IV. 





I I I 





MEADOW PIPIT. 


173 


INSESSORES. 

DENTTROSTRES. 


A NTH J DAE. 


MEADOW PIPIT. 

TITLARK. 

Anthus pratensis. 

PLATE XLIV. FIGS. I. AND II. 

The eggs of the Meadow Pipit are less subject to 
variety than those of the other species, not often differ¬ 
ing much from the sombre colouring of fig. 1, except in 
the intensity of tint; some are less strongly freckled 
throughout, whilst others are marked with a distinct 
zone of deeper colour towards the larger end. The 
variety at fig. l 2, from the collection of Mr. Bond, is 
seldom met with. I had one very distinct and remark¬ 
able variety, not unlike some eggs of the pied wagtail. 

The Titlark builds its nest in meadows and pastures, 
but is more partial to the margins of heathy moors. On 
those which border the lake district of Cumberland and 
Westmoreland, it is very abundant; and the cuckoo, 
which seems to have a partiality for its nest, is there 
more numerous than I have ever seen it elsewhere. The 
nest is composed entirely of grass, finer towards the in¬ 
side, and contains four or five eggs. 


174 


ANTHHLE. 


TNSESSORES. 

DENTIROSTRES. 


ANTHIDJE 


ROCK PIPIT. 

ROCK LARK. 

Anthus AQUATICUS. 

PLATE XLIV. FIG. III. 

The Rock Pipits are, I believe, confined entirely to 
the sea-coast, upon some parts of which they are very 
abundant. They make their nests upon the ground, or 
upon ledges of the rock bounding the sea-beach. I have 
frequently found them upon the Fern and Coquet Islands, 
and once met with one snugly sheltered in the centre of 
a heap of sea-weed which lay upon the sandy shore just 
above high-water mark. The nest is composed entirely 
of fine dry grass, and, although beautifully complete and 
symmetrical in its proper position, very soon falls to 
pieces if removed. The eggs are four or five, and oc¬ 
casionally six in number. I have seen no very striking 
varieties amongst them ; they maybe readily known from 
those of the other species of Anthus by their superior 
size ; from some of the varieties of eggs of the skylark it 
would not be so easy to distinguish them; they are, 
however, usually broader, in comparison to their length, 
and are without the greenish colouring, which is fre¬ 
quently characteristic of the eggs of the skylark. The 
egg figured, sent me from the collection of Mr. Hancock, 
is more like the eggs of the skylark in shape and colour 
than is usually the case. 


Richard's pipit. 


175 


IN'S ESS ORES. A NTH I DM. 

DEN TIROS TRES. 


RICHARD’S PIPIT. 

Anthus Ricardi. 

PLATE XLIV. FIG. IV. 

The eggs, from which I have selected one to form the 
subject of the accompanying drawing, were amongst those 
which the assiduous and successful bird-nesting rambles 
of the late Mr. Hoy added to our collections; they were 
brought by him from the Continent, and are in the col¬ 
lection of Mr. H. Doubleday, of Epping, who has with 
his usual kindness sent me one to figure. The Messrs. 
Tuke have also received them from Germany. 

This species, like the rest of the genus, makes its nest 
in a tuft of grass upon the ground. It is of dry grass, 
moss, and a few hairs; the eggs are four or five in 
number. 


17 6 


ALAUDIDJS. 


I NS ESS ORES. 
CONIROSTRES. 


ALA UDIDAE. 


SKY-LARK. 

Alauda arvensis. 

PLATE XLV. FIG. I. 

The eggs of the Sky-lark, though very rarely differing 
so much as to cause a difficulty in identifying the species, 
are nevertheless subject to much variety both in form 
and colour ; some are large and oval; others are pyriform 
like those of the waders; some are of the deep sombre 
brown which marks the eggs of the titlark ; others are 
tinted with green, and are, I think, the most characteristic 
of the species; whilst a few, and these are of rare occur¬ 
rence, are so much less closely freckled, as to leave a light 
ground-colour. In a nest, which I found in Derbyshire 
some years ago, were two of these varieties ; one of them 
resembled a good deal the eggs of the woodlark both in 
size and colour; the other was still lighter, the markings 
smaller, and not unlike eggs of the pied wagtail. These 
were in the same nest with three others of the usual size 
and colour. There is yet another variety which I had 
almost forgotten to mention, on which the chief part of 
the colouring is concentrated in a deep zone round the 
larger end, and in two or three specimens which I have 
seen the same deeper colouring was centred in a finger¬ 
like mark on one side only. Like the eggs of many of 
our smaller birds, they are occasionally white. 

The nest of this species is made almost entirely of dried 
grasses, finer towards the interior, mixed with a few roots; 


XLT 











SKY-LARK. 


177 


it is placed upon the ground, and may be found in almost 
every situation which the country affords; the grassy 
meadow, the corn-field, the open pasture, and on the 
bare sod of the ploughed land ; it may also be met with 
amongst the long tufts of grass which abound in lands 
partially boggy, and sometimes in newty made planta¬ 
tions. 

Mr. Blyth mentions a remarkable instance in which 
the Sky-lark—its nest being laid open by the scythe— 
constructed over it a canopy of dry grass, to afford it the 
protection and concealment which the long grass, amongst 
which it was snugly sheltered, had previously afforded, 
an instance curious, because the same birds had probably 
the preceding year built their nest in a situation quite as 
much exposed to the daylight and the weather as the 
present one when left bare by the mowers. 

The Sky-lark breeds earlier, but I have usually found 
its eggs in May and June; they are from three to five ; 
frequently not more than three in number. 


178 


ALAUDIDiE. 


1NSESS0RES. 

CONIROSTIIES. 


A LA UDIBAL 


CRESTED LARK 
Alauda cristata. 

PLATE SLY. FIG. II. 

Since the two instances of the occurrence of this 
species in the British Islands mentioned by Mr. Yarrell, 
others have been killed in Cornwall, and are re¬ 
corded in the “ Zoologist/' The Crested Lark, which is 
met with on many parts of the continent, and is abun¬ 
dant on the opposite coast of France, breeds, like the 
sky-lark, upon the ground, and lays four or five eggs, 
which are scarcely to be distinguished from those of 
our well-known species. Specimens with which I have 
been favoured from the collections of Mr. Walter, 
Mr. Bond, and Mr. Newton, are somewhat larger than 
the usual eggs of the sky-lark, but do not differ from 
large eggs of that species ; those forwarded to me by 
Mr. Newton, together with the nest in which they were 
taken, were sent to him from Holland. 

The nest is much more compact than that of the sky¬ 
lark, and may be removed without difficulty. With 
the exception of two or three small bits of moss, it is 
built entirely of grass ; and whilst the outside is com¬ 
posed of the stalks, the inside is lined with the soft 
flowering tops without their seed. 






XLY * 







SHORE LARK. 


178 * 


IiVSFSSORES. 

CONIItOSTMES. 


A LA TJBIDAE. 


SHORE LARK. 

Alauda alpestris. 

PLATE XLV.* 

Mr. Wolley, who has given me the pleasure of figur¬ 
ing so many rare eggs, has accompanied those of this 
species with the following information. “ I found the 
Shore Lark very common in East Finmark on all the 
cultivated lands near the sea, and also up the hills, al¬ 
though less numerous. It was very delightful to hear it 
singing as it sat on a post, or on a rail, or a barn top. 
At one house where I was staying, it used to come on 
the roof soon after midnight, and sing for several hours 
in the cool sunshine. Its nests, of which I found several, 
were placed like common larks, in a depression of the 
ground, often near a stone, and there was nothing very 
striking in the nesting habits or actions of the bird. 
One, whose nest I had some difficulty in finding, be¬ 
trayed it by running on to its eggs whilst I was watch¬ 
ing it at a few feet distance. The nests, when taken out 
of their place, are found to be of a loose structure, and 
are generally lined with down from the willow or other 
plants. The number of eggs commonly four, or some¬ 
times five. The bird appears to be double-brooded, the 
first eggs being very early, the second laid in July. I 
found from experience, that if its nest and eggs are taken 


ALAUDIDiE. 


it will have a new nest and eggs twice again, at least, 
and not far from the original spot. It breeds on the 
high lands in the north of Lapland, quite in the interior 
of the country. In the autumn flocks of it are to be 
seen in the corn-fields like common larks in other coun¬ 
tries on their way south along the course of the rivers.” 

Audubon found the Shore Lark breeding “ on the high 
and desolate tracts in the vicinity of the sea ” building 
its nest upon patches of lichen with which the stony 
surface is decorated, which he describes as beautifully 
varied, green and pure white, and every tint of colour. 

Of the eggs figured, whilst one has the character of 
those of the wood lark, the other has quite the appear¬ 
ance of eggs of the sky lark, one of them is crossed by a 
black line like the eggs of the reed fauvette, a peculiarity 
which I have not before noticed in eggs of this genus. 


WOODLARK. 


179 


INSESSORES. AL AUDI DAE. 

CONIROSTRES. 


WOODLARK. 

Alauda arbqrea. 

PLATE XLV. FIO. III. 

Great progress lias been made of late towards a know¬ 
ledge of tlie eggs of our British Birds. Till within a 
few years the eggs of the Woodlark were very little 
known, and were misrepresented in most collections by 
one of the varieties of those of the tree-pipit. 

The difficulty in procuring its eggs may be accounted 
for by the value that is set upon the young birds, and 
the eagerness with which they are sought, to rear them 
for the cage. 

The Woodlark, though not a rare bird, being met with 
in most of the southern counties, is yet nowhere numer¬ 
ous : north of York it is but seldom met with, but has 
been frequently taken by the bird-catchers in the neigh¬ 
bourhood of that city. It is partial to newly-inclosed 
lands, and to light heathy districts ; and makes its nest 
for the most part on those bare pastures which generally 
surround them, especially if trees and plantations are not 
far distant; it may be found also on the bare fallow field. 

The nest, which is composed of coarse grass and roots, 
mixed occasionally with moss, and the skeletons of de¬ 
cayed leaves, and lined with the same materials of a finer 
texture, together with a few hairs, is placed in a tuft of 
grass upon the ground. Mr. Neville Wood mentions 

n 2 


180 


ALAUDIDiE. 


having found one upon the stump of a felled tree. 
Mr. Hoy informed me that he has found the eggs early 
in March in mild seasons, and as late as the end of July ; 
they are four or five in number, and are readily known 
from those of the sky-lark and the pipits, by their lighter 
ground-colour; they are not subject to much variety, 
but are sometimes marked with blotches of vinous colour¬ 
ing. When fresh and unblown they are of a beautiful 
rose colour. 

Mr. Newton tells me, that the Woodlark is not un¬ 
common in his neighbourhood, near Thetford, but that it 
is very local. “That the localities to which the birds are 
most partial are old sheep-walks in the vicinity of Scotch 
fir-trees. On places such as these the herbage is so scanty, 
that they can hardly be said to choose a tuft of grass 
as the situation of their nests, though they generally 
select a spot where the bents are the thickest; I have, 
however, found a nest where the turf was as short as a 
well kept lawn, and I have seen one secluded in a clump 
of heather. Their nests are usually more compact than 
those of the sky-lark, and will bear being taken up from 
the hole in which they are built/’ 

The Woodlark breeds annually in Oatlands Park, where 
heath and fir-trees are abundant. In the Spring of J 849, 
on the 4th of April, Mr. J. Hancock found a nest and 
eggs within a few yards of my house. It was fortu¬ 
nately well sheltered in a thick tuft of rough dry grass, 
and some days after, when the old bird was sitting very 
close, it was completely covered for some hours by a 
heavy storm of snow. The note of the Woodlark, one 
of the earliest of the year, has a peculiar charm,—a wild 
cadence, which, to my ear, is not surpassed by any bird 
of summer. 


SHORT-TOED LARK. 


INSESS ORES. 

CON IROSTRES. 


181 

ALAVDIDAE. 


SHORT-TOED LARK. 

Alal t da brachydactyla. 

PLATE XLV., FIG. IV. 

Since the Short-toed Lark has made its appearance in 
this country, and been admitted to a place amongst our 
British Birds, I am glad to avail myself of the kindness 
of Mr. Walter, which enables me to figure an eg-ff of this 
species from his collection. This egg, it will be seen, 
closely resembles those of the woodlark, and is rather 
more rufous in its colouring than the egg which was fi¬ 
gured in the former edition from the collection of Mr. 
Gould. 

The Short-toed Lark is met with in abundance in va¬ 
rious parts of the South of Europe. 

Whilst wandering during the autumn upon the grassy 
slopes of the Appenines, which form a back ground to 
the city of Genoa, I frequently heard the song of a Lark, 
the notes of which exceeded in power and sweetness 
those of any other bird it has been my pleasure to listen 
to; and I have no doubt that the bird of which I speak 
was the Short-toed Lark, from its similarity in size. I 
have watched them while singing, and hovering, like the 
sky-lark, high in the air, and almost beyond my view, 
and at the time a strong wind was blowing, and have 
wondered that I could distinctly hear every note they 
uttered. 


182 


EMBEMZID^E. 


INSESSORES. 

CONIROSTIlES. 


EMBERJZIDjE. 


LAPLAND BUNTING. 

Plectrophanes Lapponica. 

PLATE XLVI., FIGS. I. AND II. 

The only account which we have of this species dur¬ 
ing the breeding season, is that of Sir John Richardson, 
which I copy from his “Fauna Boreali Americana”:— 
“In the year 1827, it appeared on the plains at Carlton 
House, about the middle of May, in very large flocks. 
During their stay of ten or twelve days, they frequented 
open spots, where recent fires had destroyed the grass. 
They came to Cumberland House a few days later in the 
season, and there kept constantly in the furrows of a 
newly ploughed field. In the preceding year they were 
seen, though in smaller flocks, in the vicinity of Fort 
Franklin, in the beginning of May. 

“They breed in moist meadows on the shores of the 
Arctic Sea. The nest, placed on a small hillock among 
moss and stones, is composed externally of the dry stems 
of grass interwoven to a considerable thickness, and 
lined very neatly and compactly with deer's hair. The 
eggs, usually seven, are pale ochre yellow, spotted with 
brown.” 

Those which I have figured are from the collection of 
Mr. J. Hancock, and were selected from a large series 
received by him from Greenland. At first sight they 
have little resemblance to those of the buntings ; but, on 


XL'VI 






LAPLAND BUNTING. 


183 


closer examination, some of the well-known map-like 
marks, so characteristic of that genus, are there ; in other 
respects, they shew their relationship to the larks, and 
that they are well placed between the two genera. 

A nest from Labrador, sent me by Mr. Newton, is 
formed entirely of the finest grasses, interwoven toward 
the inside with numerous duck’s feathers. 


184 


EMBElUZIDiE. 


I NS ESS ORES. 

CON III OSTJi ES. 


EMBERlZlDJi. 


SNOW BUNTING. 

TAWNY BUNTING, SNOW FLAKE. 

Plectiiophanes Nivalis. 


PLATE XLVI., FIG. III. 

The Snow Bunting lias never been known to breed 
in this country, but only visits us during the winter 
months, and returns to more northerly regions to pro¬ 
pagate its species. Pennant says that they breed in 
Greenland. Mr. Hancock, of Newcastle, has the eggs 
from Davis's Straits ; and Mr. Proctor, of Durham, found 
the nests of this species when in Iceland, in the month 
of June; they were placed amongst large stones, or in 
the fissures of rocks, and were composed of dry grass, 
lined with hair or feathers. 

Sir John Richardson says that they breed on the north¬ 
ernmost of the American islands, and on all the shores of 
the continent, from Chesterfield inlet to Behring’s Straits. 
Captain Lyons found their nests on Melville and South¬ 
ampton islands, “ in the crevices of rocks, or amongst 
loose stones, and constructed of dried grass, neatly lined 
with white deer’s hair.” He mentions having met with 
one which was placed in the dead body of an Esquimaux 
child. Lieutenant Ross also describes one which was 
found at the Whale-fish Islands, early in July, formed of 
dry grass, and lined with feathers, which were covered 
with a fine white down. 


SNOW BUNTING. 


185 


When in Norway we saw the Snow Buntings in their 
beautiful summer-plumage of black and white, and suc¬ 
ceeded in finding a single nest and young ones under 
some loose stones upon one of the larger islands. 

It will be seen from the various accounts of this species 
which I have quoted, that it varies the lining of its nest 
considerably, according to circumstances, soft materials 
of any kind being difficult to procure in those sterile, 
thinly peopled countries. 

The eggs are from four to six in number, and are sub¬ 
ject to great variety ; some are like those of the tribe of 
birds to which it belongs, whilst others are exactly like 
those of the green-linnet. Mr. Hancock, of Newcastle, 
lias a variety thickly marked all over with spots of a 
reddish and purple hue, and much resembling eggs of the 
spotted flycatcher. 

The variety of the egg figured, which is, I think, the 
most common, is from the collection of Mr. Salmon. 

Mr. Wolley has met with this species during the breed¬ 
ing* season on several of the highlands of Feroe ; and 
from Finland where he now is, waiting the breeding 
season, he has sent me the following notes : “ In these 
dreary spots a simple echo-less song draws one's attention 
to the handsome cock bird. He sits upon a fragment of 
rock, cheering his sombre-coloured mate, who is brooding 
over her treasure in some sunless hole not far off. In 
some place, where the ground is covered with rough 
stones, he has found a dry recess, in which, with his 
partner's help, he has built a compact nest of the finest 
grass stalks, and lined it with feathers. In such an arti¬ 
ficial cradle as I have just suggested, I left five young 
snowfinches upon a mountain in Finland. It was on the 
22nd of June, and they were, apparently, about a week 

old." 


186 


EMBERIZIDAL 


I NS ESS ORES. 

CON I ROST liES. 


EMBElUZIDsE. 


COMMON BUNTING. 

CORN-BUNTING, BUNTING-LARK. 

Emberiza MILIARIA. 

PLATE XLVII. FIG. III. 

The Common Bunting, perhaps better known by the 
name of Corn-bunting, or Bunting-lark, builds its loosely 
constructed nest on or near the ground, sometimes in 
briers, more commonly in a clump of grass, and occasion¬ 
ally at the root of a low shrub ; it is usually in the open 
fields, and at a distance from the hedge-rows ; it is com¬ 
posed of a few sticks, pieces of moss, and dry grass, be¬ 
coming finer towards the inside, which is sometimes com¬ 
pleted by the addition of a few hairs. The eggs are four 
or five in number, and differ a good deal in size, shape 
and colour, but always retain the character of the genus 
Their size prevents them from being mistaken for those 
of any other bunting. The egg figured is larger and 
more richly coloured than usual. 



% 



XLY1I. 





BLACK-HEADED BUNTING. 


187 


INSESSORES . 

CON I ROST RES. 


EMBERIZIDJE. 


BLACK-HEADED BUNTING. 

REED-SPARROW, BLACK-CAP. 

Emberiza SCHCENICLUS. 

PLATE XLVII. FIG. I. 

Different opinions have been held with regard to the 
position of the nest of this species. Some authors, in de¬ 
scribing the situation of its nest, have no doubt con¬ 
founded it with that of the sedge-warbler, as noticed by 
Mr. Selby and the Rev. L. Jenyns. 

It usually builds its nest in a clump of grass, or low 
bush, preferring a marshy situation. I have, however, 
though rarely, found the nest at an elevation of two feet 
or more above the water, and supported by a bunch of 
the common reed, not fixed like the nest of the reed- 
warbler attached to the perpendicular stems, but sup¬ 
ported upon a bunch of them which had been prostrated 
by the wind. 

The nest is composed of the stalks of various plants, 
some moss, and is lined with hair. The eggs are four or 
five in number, varying only in the browner or more 
purple tint of the general colour. They have much re¬ 
semblance in their marking to the eggs of the chaffinch, 
but are always much darker. 


188 


EMBERIZID^E. 


INSESS ORES. 
CONIROSTRES. 


EMBERIZIDJE. 


YELLOW BUNTING. 

YELLOW-AMMER, YELLOW-YOWLEY, or GOLD SPINK. 

Emberiza CITRINELLA. 

PLATE XLVII., FIG. II. 

The Yellow Bunting is one of our most common 
birds, and its singularly marked eggs always form a 
large portion of the bird-nesting spoils which fill the 
string of the scliool-boy. Although subject to great va¬ 
riety, they are usually so characteristic of the species that 
it would not be easy to confound them with those of any 
other bird, except the rarer eggs of the cirl bunting. In 
form they are occasionally very long and oval, sometimes 
round as a marble. I have seen a single specimen of this 
egg so much suffused with colour that it might have been 
mistaken for that of the cuckoo. 

The nest is formed outwardly of straws, bits of moss, 
sticks sometimes, and coarse grass, finer towards the in¬ 
side, which is finished with roots and a few hairs. It 
may be found upon almost every briery hedge-dyke; it 
is most commonly placed upon the ground, but not un- 
frequently occupies the centre of a thick bush. 

Mr. Salmon has found the nest at the unusual height 
of seven feet above the ground, amongst the thick bushy 
branches of some broom; and once, very much to my 
surprise, whilst seeking for nests of blackbirds and 
thrushes, amongst the firs of a young plantation, I dis- 


YELLOW BUNTING. 


189 


covered a nest of this species about six feet above the 
ground, upon the branch of a spruce fir-tree, exemplify¬ 
ing a remark made to me by Mr. Yarrell, that as the 
buntings become more nearly allied to the larks by the 
greater length of their hind claws, so they likewise re¬ 
semble them in their habit of building upon the ground. 
Of this the common and snow buntings, both of which 
have the claw produced, are instances; the former very 
rarely, the latter, as far as known, never raising its nest 
above the ground. 

The eggs of the Yellow Bunting are from three to five 
in number ; the female sits very closely, and is not easily 
driven from them. 


190 


EMBERIZIDiE. 


INSESSORES. 

CONIROSTRES. 


EMBERIZIDJE. 


GIRL BUNTING. 

Emberiza cirlus. 

PLATE XLVIII., FIG. II. 

The Cirl Bunting, together with its nest and eggs? 
was first discovered in this country by Colonel Montague, 
and as I have never seen the nest, I quote his informa¬ 
tion. He says, “ We first discovered this species near 
Kingsbridge, in 1800 ; they are indigenous to Devon¬ 
shire, but seem to be confined to the southern parts of 
that county contiguous to the coast, having found them 
extending as far as Teignmouth, at both of which places 
we found their nests, but have never observed them far 
inland. It generally builds in furze, or some low bash ; 
the nest is composed of dry stalks, roots, and a little 
moss, lined with long hairs and fibrous roots; the eggs 
are four or five in number.” 

The Cirl Bunting breeds also in Cornwall, from which 
county the Messrs. Tuke have received their eggs. 

This species is not uncommon in the neighbourhood of 
Bath and Bristol during the winter months. 





XLVHL 






ORTOLAN BUNTING. 


191 


INSESSORES 

CONIROSTRES. 


EMBERIZIDJE. 


ORTOLAN BUNTING. 

Emberiza hortulana. 

PLATE XLVIII., FIG. I. 

In Italy, Germany, and various part of the Continent, 
the Ortolan Bunting is an abundant species. I am for¬ 
tunate in being able to give some account of it, from an 
eye witness of its habits. The liberality of the late Mr. 
Hoy supplied me with the nests and several beautiful 
varieties of the eggs of this species, together with the fol¬ 
lowing information:—“ The Ortolan Bunting begins to 
build early in May; it places its nest almost invariably 
in the corn, preferring rye to other kinds ; indeed it is 
partial to light sandy soils where rye is much cultivated. 
The nest is placed in some little hollow in the ground, in 
the manner of that of the sky-lark. It is formed of dry 
grass and roots, thickly lined towards the interior with 
very fine roots; in some, the inside is furnished with a 
few hairs. The eggs are four or five, sometimes, though 
rarely, six in number. I have never found them breed¬ 
ing except amongst corn. The male is almost incessant 
in its monotonous song during the pairing-season ; it 
much resembles others of the tribe, having some resem¬ 
blance to that of the cirl, as well as the reed bunting ” 
Some of the varieties of the eggs are a good deal like 
those of the reed bunting, and others bear some likeness 
to those of the yellow bunting, but are usually easily 
known from both by the number of round spots with 
which they are marked. 


192 fringillidjl 

I NS ESS ORES. FRINQILLIBJE. 

CONIROSTRES. 


CHAFFINCH. 

SKELLY, SHELL-APPLE, PICK-A-TREE. 

Fringilla CCELEBS. 

PLATE XLIX. FIG. I. 

Few can have passed through life so unobservant as 
not to have seen, and in seeing to have admired, the nest 
of the Chaffinch. No one whose heart is touched by the 
beauties of Nature, can have examined this exquisite 
structure without uttering some exclamation of wonder 
and delight, and of comparing it, like the poet, with all 
that is most admirable in art and of man's invention. 

Amongst even the tiny architects of the feathered race 
there are few that can compete with the Chaffinch. Its 
nest is not only perfect in its inward arrangements, but 
is tastefully ornamented on the outside as well, with 
materials such as nature can alone supply. In its out¬ 
ward decoration some individuals employ much more of 
taste than others, but all seem to think it indispensable 
to deck the green walls of their dwellings with gems of 
white ; and when, in the neighbourhood of our towns, 
the beautiful white lichens which are used for that pur¬ 
pose are obscured and blackened by the smoke of our 
chimneys, they have recourse to something else. 

A nest of the Chaffinch, which was built in an old 
willow-tree in my father's garden, amidst the smoke of 
Newcastle, where no white lichens could be found, was 


XL IX 












CHAFFINCH. 


193 


stuck over outside with small bits of white paper. Mr. 
Rennie says that, in the neighbourhood of the cotton 
factories at Catrine, in Ayrshire, he has seen many Chaf¬ 
finches' nests thus decked with small tufts of cotton 
wool. 

The Chaffinch builds its nest in many different situa¬ 
tions, preferring old moss-grown apple- or crab-trees, and 
white thorn bushes. There is, however, scarcely a low 
tree upon the branches of which the nest may not be 
sometimes found, occasionally upon the flat bough of 
a spruce-fir, in hollies, laurels, and furze-bushes, and 
often in hedges. I have found one on the top of a 
dead stake fence. The nest is small in comparison 
with that of most other birds, being usually only an 
inch and three-fourths in diameter inside; it is com¬ 
posed chiefly of moss, so worked and matted together 
with wool, that it is no easy matter to pull it into 
pieces as small as those of which it was first formed; 
inside of this is a very thick lining of dry grass, wool, 
feathers, thistle-down, and hair, in succession. 

The eggs are four or five in number, and rarely differ 
much from the accompanying figure. I have taken some 
of a light blue, blotched with reddish colouring, and much 
like those of the bullfinch. 


o 


194 


FEIN GILLIDiE. 


INSFSSORES. 

CONIROSTRES. 


FRINGILLID.fi. 


MOUNTAIN FINCH. 

BR AMBLING. 

Fringilla MONTIFRINGILLA. 

PLATE XLIX. FIGS. II. AND III. 

To tlie kindness of Mr. Dasliwood I am indebted for 
the pleasure it affords me to figure an egg, about which 
nothing has, with any certainty, been before known ; 
the eggs have been described as resembling those of the 
green-linnet, but are, as might be expected, very much 
like those of the chaffinch. 

Mr. Dasliwood has had the Brambling for some years 
at his residence at Beccles, Suffolk, and from him I have 
the following interesting notes. His aviary is a large 
one, inclosing a considerable piece of ground, surrounded 
by ivy, and planted inside with shrubs, so that the birds 
enjoy something of their native liberty. 

The nest having been completed four days, the female 
laid her first egg on the 16th of June, 1839, depositing 
another daily till the 21st, when they were removed. 

“The nest was deep, the walls thick, a large quantity 
of materials employed for the foundation, which was 
worked among the stalks of the ivy leaves. It was com¬ 
posed of moss, wool, and dry grass, and lined with hair. 
Portions of the nests of the chaffinch, green linnet, white- 
throat, and yellow-bunting, were plentifully supplied, so 
that ample choice of materials was afforded. 

“ In the latter part of July of the same year, another 
pair of Bramblings built, placing their nest on the ground 


MOUNTAIN FINCH. 


195 


close to a shrub on a tuft of grass. Outside of the nest 
of moss, lined with hair. From this nest I removed four 
eggs on the 1st of August. On the 17th of June, 1810, 
they laid again, having built in the ivy. This nest I did 
not disturb, and although the eggs were hatched, they 
did not succeed in rearing the young ones.” 

Soon after these notes were sent to me, Mr. Dasliwood 
ceased to keep these birds in confinement; he has, how¬ 
ever, supplied me very liberally with two other examples 
of the egg to figure. 

In a state of nature the Brambling would not have 
built its nest upon the ground. 

Mr. Wolley, who states that the Brambling breeds 
plentifully near Muonioniska although he arrived there 
last summer too late to obtain the eggs, has sent me the 
following descriptions of three nests which he saw in the 
museum at Stockholm. 

One, which was like the nest of the chaffinch and con¬ 
tained five eggs also like the eggs of the chaffinch, was 
built principally of lichens and fine grass, with a few 
feathers inside, A second, “taken on the 18th of June, 
is made chiefly of the black, hair-like, lichen which hangs 
from the fir-trees in these far northern regions. The 
third nest was found on the 8th of June, and is made 
of hair, feathers, grass, and moss, and has a good many 
feathers in the lining; it contains six eggs.” 

Whilst on our way towards the north, June 8th, we 
saw some of the Bramblings in the pine forests of Nor¬ 
way, but searched till we were weary for their nests to 
no purpose. On our return homewards through the same 
district, July 1st, we had, however, the mortification of 
knowing that the nests must have been there, for the 

o 

birds which we had seen before were now accompanied 
by their young ones. 


196 


FRINGILLID.E. 


INSESSORES. 

CONIROSTRES. 


ERIN GILL TD^E. 


GOLDFINCH. 

Fringilla carduelis. 

PLATE L. FIG. I. 

I HAVE nowhere seen the Goldfinch so abundant during 
the breeding-season as it is in the midland counties of 
Derby, Nottingham, and Leicester, where it is univer¬ 
sally known by the absurd name of proud tailor. Most 
of the gardens and orchards which surround the various 
villages and farm-houses are their resort during the sum¬ 
mer months. The favourite position for their nest in such 
situations is similar to that chosen by the chaffinch, the 
bough of an apple- or pear-tree ; and when in the neigh¬ 
bouring fields, that of a low elm. It is also frequently 
built in evergreens. I remember finding a singularly 
beautiful nest of this species at the top of a lofty laurel, 
which, surrounded as it was by the green leaves, very much 
resembled some of those diminutive nests of the humming¬ 
bird, which are frequently brought to this country encir¬ 
cled by evergreen leaves; this bush had been the constant 
resort of the birds, during the cold and protracted spring, 
for several weeks previous to the discovery of the nest, 
so that they seem to have made their choice of its site on 
their first arrival in the neighbourhood. 

The nest is very small, and is sometimes a good deal 
like that of the chaffinch in neatness of outline, although 

7 O 




L 














GOLDFINCH. 


197 


without its compactness of form ; it contains also a much 
greater proportion of moss in its construction. The outer 
part is of moss and roots, closely intermixed and twisted 
together with wool, and ornamented outside with lichens; 
it is thickly lined with the soft seed of willows and this¬ 
tles, mixed with the down of feathers, and a few hairs. 
The eggs are four or five, and rarely six, in number; they 
vary little, and greatly resemble those of the grey and 
mountain linnets 


198 


FEIN GILLID JS. 


INSESSORES. 

CONIJROSTRES . 


FR INGILLIDJl. 


SISKIN. 

Fringilla spinus 

PLATE L. FIC4. II. 

Several instances of the Siskins breeding in this 
country are recorded by Mr. Yarrell. From the infor¬ 
mation of Mr. Meyer, he says that it has twice built in 
furze, about three feet from the ground, near Coombe 
Wood, the eggs being taken in both instances and hatched 
under canaries. It is more frequent in Scotland than in 
England, for Sir W. Jardine says, that they have bred in 
a large fir wood at Killin, and also in a wood near New 
Abbey, in Galloway. Mr. Yarrell says, that Mr. Drew 
has met with them during the breeding-season on the 
borders of Loch Fine, and that Mr. Gardiner, of Dundee, 
has known of a nest and young ones in Camperdown 
woods, which was built close to the trunk at the inser¬ 
tion of a branch of a spruce-fir, about six feet from the 
ground ; it was composed of materials similar to those 
used by the chaffinch. 

For the egg from which my former drawing was made, 
I was indebted to the late Miss Fisher; it was laid, 
together with three others, by a bird which she had three 
years in confinement. 

For the egg now figured, I have to thank Mr. John 
Hancock, who has also kindly sent me the following 


SISKIN. 


199 


information :—“ When on a visit in 1850 to Mr. St. John, 
at Elgin, he drew my attention to the locality where he 
suspected that the Siskin was building, and, after much 
searching, we succeeded in obtaining the object of our 
desire. The first nest was found near Inverness, by Mr. 
Lewis Dunbar, on the 10th of April. It had four eggs, 
and was placed near the end of a branch of the spruce-fir. 
A few days afterwards (May 2nd), I took, near Elgin, 
other two nests, which are the only ones I have had an 
opportunity of seeing in their natural position; they 
contained young; one had five, the other four, and a 
rotten egg ; they were both built near the extremity of 
branches of the spruce-fir. The foliage of the trees was 
very dense, so that the nest could scarcely be seen. Last 
year I received another nest, containing five eggs, from 
Ross-shire. The nest is small, measuring in diameter out¬ 
side, three inches; inside, one inch and three quarters; 
depth of cavity, one inch and a quarter. It is composed 
outside of moss, twigs of the fir, and delicate vegetable 
fibres, lined with a few hairs and a little down. There is 
also generally a feather or two, and occasionally a little 
wool." 


200 


FRINGILLIDiE. 


7NSESSORES. FRINGILL1D/E. 

CONIROSTRES. 


COMMON LINNET. 

GREY-LINNET, BROWN-LINNET. 

Fringilla CANNABINA. 

PLATE LI. FIG. I. 

It was long supposed that there were two species under 
the common name of grey-linnet. We always believed so 
when at school, for those nests which we used to find in 
h edges were, for the most part, considerably larger than 
those built in furze-bushes ; there was, too, a great dis¬ 
parity in the size of the eggs, some being so large that 
when mixed with small specimens of the eggs of the 
green-linnet, we had difficulty in setting apart those of 
each species. 

In districts where furze abounds it is the favourite 
nesting resort of the grey-linnet. I have, however, found 
quite as many of their nests in the hedges of an inclosed 
country. Mr. Yarrell mentions a nest of this species 
which was found in a fir-tree ten or eleven feet above the 
ground. 

The nest differs little from that of the green-linnet, ex¬ 
cept in its having generally a larger proportion of roots, 
and less of moss in its composition. It is formed of small 
sticks, stalks of plants mixed with moss, roots, and wool, 
and is lined with hair and feathers, with sometimes a 
mixture of thistle or willow down. The eggs are four or 
five, and not unfrequently six, in number; they differ 
considerably. The third figure of the plate is as good a 
representative of some of them, as it is of the egg of the 
m ountain-linne t 


LI 













LESSER REDPOLE. 


201 


INS ESS ORES. FRINQILLIDjE. 

CONIROSTIiES. 


LESSER REDPOLE. 

Fringilla linaria. 

PLATE LI. FIG. II. 

Mr. Yarrell mentions Halifax as the southern limit of 
the Lesser Redpole in this country during the breeding- 
season. It would appear, however, that it is distributed 
pretty generally through the midland counties. Mr. 
Wolley, who lives at Beeston, near Nottingham, informs 
me that it breeds in his neighbourhood, and that his 
brother has found its nest near Rugby, in Warwickshire. 
Mr. Briggs meets with it near Melbourne, in Derbyshire. 
Mr. Dash wood has found several nests near Beccles, in 
Suffolk. In the position of its nest this species dif¬ 
fers from those allied to it. It is usually placed, like 
that of the chaffinch, upon the bough of a low tree or 
single thorn, a hazel-bush bordering the outskirts of 
mountain woods, sometimes in alders by the margin of a 
stream, and occasionally upon the branches of a crab-tree, 
when forming part of a high hedge. Mr. A. Newton tells 
me that it breeds yearly near Thetford, building its nest, 
close to the trunk of the tree, in plantations of young 
larch firs of no great height; but that he once found a 
nest at least sixty feet from the ground, and this was 
placed near the outer end of a branch. It is very small, 
and of the most elegant construction, and is formed of the 
stalks of plants, roots, moss, and dry grass, with hair to¬ 
wards the inside, and is thickly and most beautifully lined 


202 


FRINGILLIDvE. 


with the catkins of the willow, equalling in whiteness and 
texture the finest cotton wooL I have found the nest 
without any of the last-mentioned material, hair, fine 
grasses, and feathers being substituted in its stead. The 
eggs are from four to six in number ; the time of incuba¬ 
tion about the middle of June. 









LI 


* 




MEALY REDPOLE. 


202* 


hVSESSORES. 

CONIROS TRES. 


FIUNGILLIDjE. 


MEALY REDPOLE. 

Fringilla canescens. 

PLATE LI.* 

Although not myself a believer that the Mealy Red- 
pole is specifically distinct from the lesser, I have figured 
the eggs in deference to the opinion of many who, witli 
greater experience, think that it is. Taking a series of 
the eggs which have been sent me by Mr. Wolley, they 
are larger than those of the other species, more varied, 
and more closely spotted with rufous colour, still some 
specimens do not at all differ from them. Mr. Wolley 
says, “ The Mealy Redpole most seasons is seen through¬ 
out the winter in Lapland, though the greater number go 
southwards. Even in the breeding time it seems to be 
a gregarious bird, for a considerable number of nests are 
to be found in a small space of the birch forest, and the 
region of birch trees seems to be its proper habitat. In 
1854, I principally met with it in a small district at a 
great elevation towards the Norwegian frontier. In 1855, 
when all soft-billed birds were so scarce after the pre¬ 
ceding severe winter in the south, the Mealy Redpoles 
were abundant everywhere, from the very strands of the 
arctic ocean, over the mountains, where the nests were 
often close to the ground (as, indeed, they are sometimes 
in other situations) to the extensive forests of Muonio- 
niska. 


fuingillim;. 


“ The eggs are very variable in size, shape, and mark¬ 
ing, generally less than eggs from Greenland, where the 
bird, whether it be considered distinct or not, appears to 
be of a larger size ; but it is remarkable how precisely 
nests from such distant parts of the world resemble each 
other in materials and structure ; not a twig or filament 
in the pretty nests from Greenland but what is repeated 
in the equally pretty Lapland nests. 

“The time for laying seems very variable. In one 
wood eggs and young birds are to be found in every 
stage of advance before there could have been time for 
any to belong to a second brood." 


MOUNTAIN LINNET. 


203 


lNS ESS ORES. 

CON IE OS TEES. 


FRINGILLIDJE. 


MOUNTAIN LINNET. 

TWITE. 

Fringilla montium. 

PLATE LI. FIG. III. 

The Mountain Linnet, like the lesser redpole, is 
chiefly confined to the northern portion of this country 
during the breeding-season. It may then be met with 
in the wilder districts of the northern counties of Eng- 

O 

land, and in various parts of Scotland. Mr. Salmon 
found two of their nests in the Orkney Islands : one of 
these was placed amongst some furze, the other upon the 
ground amongst the young corn; a singular situation for 
the nest of a linnet. We found some of their nests upon 
the bare mountain sides of Shetland, built amongst the 
long heather. They were composed of heath and dry 
grass, lined with wool, fine roots, hair, and feathers, and 
contained four or five, and frequently six, eggs. 


204 


FRIN GILLIDiE. 


INSESSORES. FRINGILLIDjE. 

COXIEOSTRES. 


• GREEN LINNET. 

GREEN-FINCH, GREEN-GROSBECK. 

COCCOTHRAUSTES CHLORIS. 

PLATE UI. FIG. I. 

The nest of the Green Linnet is loosely put together on 
the outside, which is composed of twigs, roots, moss, and 
wool, becoming finer and more compact as the structure 
advances; it is thickly lined with wool, very fine roots 
and grass, hair, and a few feathers. It may be found in 
almost every high edge, in thorn-bushes, in hollies, and 
other evergreens, in ivy against trees and walls; and, in 
one instance, I have found it upon a pollard apple-tree. 
It is most commonly at an elevation of five or six feet or 
more, rarely lower. The eggs are four or five, and vary 
but slightly. 

Birds in a state of nature rarely lay those mis-shapen 
lusus-like eggs which are common amongst our domestic 
poultry. I have one, however, from the nest of the Green 
Linnet, which is only half the usual size, and quite white, 
and have seen similar eggs from the nests of several other 
species. 


LIT. 









HAWFINCH. 


205 


INSESSORES. FRINGILLIDJE. 

CO NIRO ST RES. 


HAWFINCH. 

COCCOTHRAUSTES VULGARIS. 

PLATE LII. FIGS. II. AND III. 

Mr. Henry Doubleday, of Epping, had for some years 
suspected that the Hawfinch must breed in the neighbour¬ 
ing forest, having occasionally seen the birds, and also 
some eggs of a species then unknown to him ; and to his 
assiduity, ornithologists are indebted for the knowledge 
that this species is indigenous in the country; to his 
liberality, I am indebted for the nest and eggs of this 
rare bird. The nest is remarkably shallow, and care¬ 
lessly put together, being scarcely deeper than that of 
the ring-dove ; in materials it resembles that of the bull¬ 
finch, without its nicety of form; it is chiefly of sticks, 
interspersed with pieces of white lichen, and is loosely 
lined with roots. Mr. Doubleday has himself favoured 
the public with his observations on the subject, and 
these I copy from the Magazine of Zoology and Botany: 
“Their extreme shyness has, no doubt, contributed to 
keep us in ignorance of their habits and economy; in 
this trait they exceed any land bird with which I am 
acquainted, and in open places it is almost impossible to 
approach them within gunshot. About the middle ot 
April they pair, and in a week or two commence nidifica- 
tion. The situation of the nest is various, but it is most 


206 


FRINGILLIM. 


commonly placed in an old scrubby whitethorn bush, 
often in a very exposed situation ; they also frequently 
build on the horizontal arms of large oaks, the heads of 
pollard hornbeams, in hollies, and occasionally in fir-trees 
in plantations; the elevation at which the nest is placed 
varying from five to twenty-five or thirty feet. The 
most correct description of the nest which I have seen is 
in Latham’s Synopsis. It is there said to be composed 
of dead twigs of oak, honeysuckle, &c., mixed with pieces 
of grey lichen ; the quantity of this material varies much 
in different nests, but it is never absent; in some it is 
only very sparingly placed amongst the twigs, in others 
the greater part of the nest is composed of it; the lining 
consists of fine roots and a little hair. 

“ The eggs vary in number from four to six.” 

Mr. Bond has kindly sent me the two beautiful varie¬ 
ties now figured, which were taken near Hampstead. 






# 


LIU. 






TREE SPARROW. 


207 


I NS ESS ORES. 
CONIROSTRES. 


FRINGILLIDJE. 


TREE SPARROW. 

Passer montanus. 

PLATE LIII. FIGS. I. AND II. 

The Tree Sparrow is by no means so rare a bird 
as it has been generally considered by ornithologists. 
It breeds abundantly in Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and 
Northumberland, and most probably throughout the 
northern counties. 

Its habits are usually somewhat more retired than 
those of our common sparrow, choosing for its nest holes 
in trees, and not in the immediate neighbourhood of our 
dwellings. A number of nests, found by the Rev. W. 
D. Fox, in Derbyshire, from which he kindly sent me a 
series of varieties of the eggs, were built either in the 
holes of large trees, or those of pollard-willows. 

When at Cullercoats, in Northumberland, Mr. John 
Hancock took me to an old wall surrounding the gardens 
of Whitley Hall, in which a number of the Tree and 
House-sparrows were breeding in common, without any 
distinction as to habit, locality, or nest. 

Mr. Yarrell, quoting the information of the Rev. J. 
Dimock, says, “ These birds frequently build in the thatch 
of a barn, in company with the House-sparrow, not, how¬ 
ever, entering the thatch from the inside of the building 
like them, but by holes in the outside: five or six in¬ 
stances of this sort occurred in one building, and one or 


208 


FRIN GILLIDiE. 


two pairs built upon the farm-house. They also built in 
the deserted nests of magpies and crows, in which they 
formed domed nests, as does the Common Sparrow, when 
it builds among the branches of trees.” 

From the same source I copy information supplied by 
the late Mr. Hoy, who says that, on the Continent, where 
this species is rather numerous, they often build their 
nests in holes in the tiling of houses, and in stacks of 
wood-faggots. 

As I have mentioned above, the nest of the Tree 
Sparrow does not differ from that of the other species, 
being like it formed of dry grass abundantly lined with 
feathers. 

The eggs are four or five in number; are less than 
those of the House Sparrow, and are usually more oval 
in form, and wider in proportion to their length; they 
are commonly more closely mottled throughout with 
various shades of brown, and are subject to great variety 
of colouring. 


HOUSE SPARROW. 


209 


INSESSORES. ERIN OIL LIDEE. 

CONIROSTRES. 


HOUSE SPARROW. 
Passer domesticus. 


PLATE LIII. FIGS. III. AND IV. 

Although by no means one of those who would doom 
his whole race to pitiless destruction, the saucy pert old 
Sparrow is no favourite of mine, and there are traits in 
his character which are anything but estimable ; many a 
time have I been sorely tempted to visit some of these 
birds with vengeance, when for days together, and in¬ 
deed the whole summer through, I have seen them 
quietly basking in idleness on a house top, watching the 
progress that my dear little friends the martins were 
making with their clay-built nests, and when all has 
been finished and made snug and complete within, poun- 
ing down upon them with the greatest coolness, and 
usurping the home which another's industry had raised. 

There is a tale told, and it has been revived by Mr. 
Jesse, in which it is stated, that once upon a time the 
martins themselves took summary vengeance upon one 
of these impudent intruders, and mustering in numbers 
to the rescue, walled the usurper in. The Sparrow is, I 
fancy, armed with too powerful a bill to be thus incar¬ 
cerated alive. 

The Sparrow is, no doubt, the most destructive of the 
feathered tribe ; and grievous, indeed, must it be, in some 
instances, to the farmer, to witness the inroads that they 

p 


210 


FRINGILLIDiE. 


make upon his wheat; lie is, however, too apt to forget 
the services they have done him by the destruction of 
countless caterpillars and grubs, which ought always to 
be considered in extenuation of the evil they are doing. 
In many parishes it has long been usual for the overseers 
to expend a portion of their funds in the destruction of 
Sparrows; there is, however, a parish near Bristol, the 
parish of Shirehampton, in which a subscription is got 
up for the extermination of birds generally, dooming all 
to destruction for the peculation of a few ; by the farmers, 
because in their ignorance they believe many of them to 
be noxious; and by the gentry because a few of them 
take a portion of that fruit which was intended by the 
Creator for the birds as well as them, and because they 
prefer the pleasures of appetite to the sweet music of the 
grove. The Sparrow adapts the form of its nest, with 
singular readiness, to the situation in which it is placed ; 
this is most commonly in the spouts of houses, in old 
walls, sheds, and ruins, when it is very loosely put to¬ 
gether ; sometimes it builds in, or underneath, the nests 
of rooks and magpies ; frequently in ivy against a wall, 
and also in firs and other thick foiiaged trees, when its 
nest is very large and carefully constructed, and covered 
with a dome ; it is composed of a quantity of straw and 
hay, and is thickly lined with feathers. The Sparrow 
lays four or five, and sometimes six, eggs ; these vary 
very much between shades of neutral tint and brown, 
and are occasionally quite white. 






LIU* 









PINE GROSBEAK. 


210 * 


INS ESS ORES. 
CONMOSTRES. 


FR1NGILL1DAL 


PINE GROSBEAK. 

Pyrrhula enucleator. 

PLATE LIII.* 

The following quotations are from the pen of Mr. 
Wolley, to whom naturalists are again greatly indebted 
for having so perseveringly traced out and brought home 
to us the hitherto unknown eggs of this species. 

“ The Pine Grosbeak, though plentiful in Sweden 
during the winter, has been supposed to go to the east 
for the breeding-season; and, generally speaking, this is 
probably true; but in the northern and eastern part of 
Swedish Lapland, as well as in Finnish Lapland, a few 
Pine Grosbeaks make their nests.” 

Mr. Wolley made frequent excursions during the winter 
months in the hopes of finding old nests by which to 
guide his search in the ensuing spring, and on one occa¬ 
sion found one much like that of the turtle-dove, in a 
young fir-tree, six feet above the ground, which he had 
no doubt belonged to this species. “ As the days grew 
longer I eagerly listened to the beautiful clear music of 
the bird in more than one locality; and one snowy morn¬ 
ing I saw a hen watching me so very unconcernedly from 
a tree, that I climbed up to try to catch her in my hand. 
It was not until I nearly touched her that she flew off, 
as though she thought I was carrying the joke too far, 
but in a way that convinced me she had no nest. 


FKINGILLIDvE. 


“I had made arrangements for working another part 
of the country, but I left a trusty Lap in strict charge to 
visit a spot in Finland, where I had ascertained that in 
previous years the bird had bred. On my return to that 
neighbourhood at the end of summer, I watched day 
after day for the arrival of my faithful Lap. The nights 
were already becoming dark, when one evening I saw 
the well-known figure in a boat approaching our strand. 
I had scarcely shouted welcome before his wallet was in 
my hand, and my English friends and myself were in 
triumphal procession to the house. First, made its ap¬ 
pearance, a grim wolfs head ; then came forth some rein¬ 
deer gad-flies ; next there was extracted an unknown 
nest; then a skinned Pine Grosbeak ; and, at last, were 
carefully unwrapped from a little case the wished-for 
eggs, and there they lay in all their fresh discovered 
beauty before us/' 

One of the eggs figured is from a nest which was first 
found on the twenty-seventh of May. It contained four 
eggs, and was about six feet from the ground, in a young 
spruce fir-tree. It did not touch the bole of the tree, and 
the branches about it were thin, short, and open ; and to 
identify them completely the hen was snared upon its 
nest. 

“ At Midsummer a nest was found with four fully- 
fledged young, about a hundred yards from the spot 
where the former nest had been. It is now in the British 
Museum. Externally it is made of remarkably open 
work of twigs and roots, generally in very long pieces. 
In the centre of the platform there is an inner bedding 
of barkless, fibrous roots, with a little of the hair-like 
lichen, which grows so abundantly on trees in Lapland 
forests." 






L IV. 







BULLFINCH. 


211 


IN'S ESS ORES. 

COX III OSTIi ES. 


FRTNGTLLI DsE. 


BULLFINCH. 

✓ 

Pyrrhula vulgaris. 

PLATE LIY. FIG. T. 

You will very rarely see tlie Bullfinch during the 
months of summer, unless you seek it in its sylvan 
haunts, amidst the thickest woods and copses, where 
it breeds, commonly choosing a blackthorn bush for the 
reception of its nest. I have rarely seen it in any 
other situation ; it may sometimes, however, be found 
upon the fiat branches of yew and fir-trees. It is 
composed of moss and roots, lined with wool and hair, 
and much resembles the nest of the green-linnet, but 
differs from it in being formed upon a platform of sticks, 
in which it resembles that of the hawfinch and crossbill. 

The Bullfinch lays four or five eggs, much like those 
of the linnet, but having a blue ground-colour. It breeds 
in May and June. 


212 


FRINGILLTD/TC. 


fVSESSORES. 

CON TROST RES!. 


FRINGILLIDJS . 


CROSSBILL. 

Loxia curvirostra. 

PLATE LIV. FIGS. II. AND III. 

The kindness of Mr. Arthur Strickland enabled me 
to figure an egg of the Crossbill in the “British Oology.” 
This egg differs very considerably from that with which 
the liberality of Mr. Yarrell supplied me for the “ Eggs 
of British Birds.” On the former egg the spots are light, 
and of the colour of those on the various species of tit¬ 
mouse ; the latter is, on the contrary, marked with a 
depth of colour, which distinguishes it from the eggs 
of the green-linnet, to which it bears much resemblance. 
Mr. Strickland's egg was taken, together with the nest, 
from the branches of a larch fir-tree, near his brother's 
residence at Boynton, near Burlington, in Yorkshire, 
during the summer of 1829. The nest was built of 
sticks, loosely put together, and crossed in a manner 
similar to that of the ring-dove, and mixed with white 
lichens, in the same way as the more clumsily-built nests 
of the hawfinch. 

The eggs now figured are sent me by two kind friends. 
Fig. 2 is from Mr. Doubleday of Epping, who says that 
“ the nest was nearly at the top of a spruce-fir, in a plan¬ 
tation just by the town. It was something like a green¬ 
finch's, but had very little moss in it, being principally 
built of small twigs of larch, and lined with hair and a 
few feathers.” An egg in the collection of Mr. Bond, 


CROSSBILL. 


213 


from the same nest, does not differ from the one figured. 
Fig. 3 is from Mr. John Hancock of Newcastle, well 
known to all those who admired his inimitable groups 
of birds in the late Crystal Palace. Mr. Hancock says, 
“ On the 8th of May, 1850, Mr. Charles St. John and I 
took three nests of the Crossbill in the pine woods on the 
banks of the Findhorn, the young of which had flown. 
This year, 1854, I received from Mr. St. John a nest con¬ 
taining four eggs, accompanied by the two parent birds, 
which was procured on the 10th of March, in Rosshire. 
I have, therefore, now had an opportunity of examining 
four nests, three of which I saw in their natural position: 
these were all built in Scotch firs; the three first men¬ 
tioned were placed on the lowest branch, about midway 
from the bole, they were all about ten feet from the 
ground ; another nest, however, which I saw at Gran- 
town, was built at so great a height that it could not 
be procured. The nests all agree in general appearance 
and structure. The following description is taken from 
the fresh nest with eggs :—“ The nest rests on the branch 
in the midst of foliage which almost entirely conceals it. 
It measures, outside diameter, upwards of five inches ; 
inside diameter, nearly three inches; depth of cavity, 
two inches and three eighths. The outside is formed 
of rather strong, dead twigs of the Scotch fir, loosely 
put together, next follows moss and wool, interwoven 
with rather long vegetable fibre. The inside lining is 
composed of delicate vegetable fibre." It is not easy 
to point out anything in either of these eggs to distin¬ 
guish them from those of the greenfinch, except that 
they are more pointed at the smaller end than the 
typical eggs of that species. Fig. 3, except in size, 
may be considered to illustrate as well eggs of the green¬ 
finch as it does those of the Crossbill. 


214 


FKINGILLID^. 


Mr. Long, of Hampton Lodge, near Farnham, who 
contributed the following account to Loudon's “Magazine 
of Natural History," tells me that the Crossbills left 
his neighbourhood soon after it was written, and have 
not been seen since, making good a remark of Mr. 
Hancock's, that these vagrant birds build their nests 
wherever they happen to be at the breeding season. 
“This day, 13th of April, 1839, I have had the satisfac¬ 
tion of receiving a nest with four eggs, from the Holt 
forest in this neighbourhood. This is the third nest 
that has been met with in the Holt. The first was 
taken with two eggs; and then, on the 7th of April, 
one with four young birds, apparently above a fort¬ 
night old, which would date the commencement of the 
nest early in the month of March. These three nests 
were all found in the thick top of a young Scotch fir, 
of about thirteen or fourteen years growth." 

From Mr. Brown, of Cirencester, I have the following 
very interesting information with regard to two nests of 
this species, seen by him in that neighbourhood in the 
spring of 1839. He had been spending the winter in 
Malta, and did not return home till it was too late to 
obtain their eggs. One of these nests was placed upon 
the lower branch of a Scotch fir-tree, about ten feet 
above the ground, and four feet from the extremity of 
the branch. The young ones, two in number, flew from 
the nest when discovered, and were afterwards watched 
by Mr. Brown as the old ones came to feed them. This 
was on the 9 th of April, so that the nest must have been 
built in February, and the eggs laid at the end of that 
month, or very early in March., “ The outside of the 
nest was a framework of the dry twigs of the larch-fir ; 
from the base all round the sides within that frame, was 
laid a thick mass of bents, and slender stalks of wild 


CROSSBILL. 


215 


plants, firmly felted together with wool; it was lined 
within with horsehair, nearly concealing the other mate¬ 
rials. The outside twigs of larch extended in a loose 
way from three to five inches round the outside of the 
nest, on the margin of which, and hanging about the 
twigs, was a complete mass of the white faeces of the 
young birds.” 

The other nest was built in a larch-fir, and was placed 
close to the trunk of the tree. It contained three young 
ones. These nests, it may be worth observing, were dis¬ 
covered in the same year as those mentioned by Mr. 
Long. 

Their very early period of breeding may account for— 
what puzzled us at the time—our seeing the Crossbills 
whilst in Norway, during the months of May and June, 
always in flocks, most likely accompanied by their young 


ones. 


216 


STURNIDiE. 


INSESSORES. STURNIDJE. 

CONIROSTRES. 


STARLING. 

Sturnus vulgaris. 

PLATE LV. FIG. I. 

The Starling is an early breeder, and repairs to its 
accustomed haunts at the end of March, or beginning of 
April, to commence nidification. It builds its nest of 
dry grass, in the holes of trees, church steeples, ruins, 
old walls, and in dwelling houses, in cliffs by the sea- 
coast, and not unfrequently in dove-cotes, and is in 
consequence accused of sucking the pigeon's eggs. The 
female lays four or five eggs, differing a little in size. 

The most extraordinary assemblage of birds I have 
ever witnessed, is the gathering of Starlings at Kings- 
weston, near Bristol, mentioned by Mr. Yarrell. I have 
seen more birds at one time at several of the breeding 
places on the sea-coast, but never beheld so many of 
one species together. An immense body of Starlings 
make their roosting-place in the beautiful evergreen 
plantations, the property of Mr. Miles, and it is a 
sight well worth seeing to watch them arriving in 
an evening in dense and compact companies, each many 
thousand strong. It is strange, too, to hear the con¬ 
fused uproar raised by their noisy squabbles as they 
perch themselves for the night. You have only to call 
to mind the din occasioned by a dozen sparrows at 
bed-time, to have a slight notion of the noise and cla¬ 
mour of a great many thousand Starlings. 


LV 




















ROSE-COLOURED STARLING. 


217 


I NS ESS ORES. STURNIDjE. 

CONIROSTRES. 


ROSE-COLOURED STARLING. 

Pastor roseus. 

* PLATE LV. PIG. II. 

The Rose-coloured Starling can scarcely now be 
called rare as a British bird. Nearly fifty instances of 
its appearance in this country are on record. Mr. Yar- 
rell mentions one in which the male and female were 
seen together in summer. 

The only information with regard to its nidification 
which I have seen, is the following brief extract from 
Mr. T. L. Powys of Geneva, in the “ Zoologist/' “ The 
nest of the Rose-coloured Pastor has been found three 
times in the canton of Geneva; the first instance was 
in the year 1810, at Nay dan, near Saleve; the second 
at Yernoux, a village by the side of the lake of Geneva, 
in 1847; the third was in a hole in a nut tree, and re¬ 
sembled that of the common starling. The eggs are pure 
white, of the size and shape of those of the common 
starling, in whose company the Rose-coloured Pastor is 
generally observed hereabouts/' 

Mr. Wolley, in a letter to Mr. Newton, says, “Herr 
Nordman, an ornithologist from Helsingfors, informed 
me that he had formerly resided at Odessa, and that 
Pastor roseus was plentiful near there, rearing its young 
in holes in banks; many pairs of birds breeding in com¬ 
pany like sand-martins." 

The ecro* which I have figured is from the collection 
of Mr. Walter. 


218 


CORVIDAE. 


INS ESSO RES. 
CONIROSTRES. 


COR VIDjE. 


CHOUGH. 

RED-LEGGED CROW. 

Fregilus GRACULUS. 

PLATE LVI. 

To the persevering kindness of the Rev. W. I). Fox, 
I was indebted for the egg from which the drawing in 
the “ Oology ” was made at a time when these eggs were 
scarcely known, together with the nest which conUtined 
five eggs. The Red-legged Crow is tolerably frequent 
round the British islands. It abounds on the Isle of 
Man; is said to breed on the western isles of Scotland ; 
is met with sparingly near Berwick-on-Tweed, and on 
the coasts of Devonshire and Cornwall. Mr. Fox has 
also observed them on all the steep rocks and promon¬ 
tories of the Isle of Wight, and on the noble cliffs of the 
Isle of Purbeck in Dorsetshire. Mr. Henry Doubleday 
saw them during the breeding-season on the northern 
cliffs of the Isle of Jersey. 

It is, notwithstanding this general distribution, a mat¬ 
ter of some difficulty to procure its eggs ; and it was not 
till after some years of fruitless endeavour that Mr. Fox 
succeeded in obtaining them, arising from the “ excessive 
caution the birds employ in selecting their places of nidi- 
fication. These are always on the face of the steepest 
cliffs, and in general in clefts far in; the passage to which 



LYI. 












CHOUGH. 


219 


turns at right angles frequently, so that you cannot reach 
the nest, or even see it.” He adds: “I obtained a young 
one, which I much regretted losing, as he promised to be 
very clever, and attached to me; he followed me very 
well, and seemed to have all the cunning of the magpie/’ 
Montague mentions an instance of a pair of Choughs 
which bred for many years in the ruins of Crow Castle, 
in the Yale of Llangollen ; and Temminck says that they 
breed on trees, though rarely. 

The nest is composed outwardly of sticks, succeeded 
by a quantity of roots and dry grass, lined with very 
fine roots, grass, and wool. 

The eggs of this species are easily known from those of 
any of our crow-kind; they are most like those of the 
magpie, from which they differ in their greater size and 
more ochreous colouring. Fig. 1 is, I think, the most 
characteristic egg. Fig. 2 is unusually crowded with spots; 
it is from the collection of Mr. Bond. 


220 


CORVIDAE. 


I NS ESS ORES. CORVIDjE. 

CONIROSTRES. 


RAVEN. 

CORVUS CORAX. 

PLATE LVII. 

The Raven, which a few years ago used to breed in 
old ruins, and even in some of our church-steeples, is now 
only to be met with far distant from man's abode, leading 
a solitary and persecuted life : it is in consequence one of 
the shyest and most wary birds in this country. In Nor¬ 
way, on the contrary, where the feathered tribes are loved 
and cherished, they so abound, that we at one time count¬ 
ed as many as eighteen together; there they are pert and 
confident, and would frequently remain quietly seated till 
we had passed them at a distance of a few yards. On 
one island which we visited we saw several of their nests 
in a large sepulchral-looking cave, peculiarly suitable as 
the residence of birds which, in some districts, are re¬ 
garded as of ill-omen. 

At home the Raven breeds in the most wild and inac¬ 
cessible districts, building its nest, for the most part, in 
the steepest cliffs upon the sea-coast, sometimes, when 
inland, upon lofty trees. They have for a great many 
years been known to breed in the mausoleum at Castle 
Howard, in Yorkshire. 

The nest is large, and composed of sticks plastered to¬ 
gether with mud, and lined with a quantity of roots, 
wool, and the fur of animals. 


LY1I 





































































. ■ a g g.a 







RAVEN. 


221 


The Raven is one of our earliest breeders, and fre¬ 
quently rears its young ones under some of our most 
inclement skies. The eggs are four or five in number, 
and go through two or three varieties intermediate to 
the figures of the plate; some are distinctly and more 
sparingly spotted and resemble somewhat eggs of the 
jackdaw. 

Mr. Newton has sent me the following graphical notes : 

“ A pair of these birds breed annually in this neigh¬ 
bourhood, and I naturally take great interest in them, 
and have thus become acquainted with much of thier 
history for some years past. 

“ When undisturbed they have usually refurnished 
their last year’s nest, always lining it neatly with rab¬ 
bits’ down. It is built on one of some lofty Scotch 
fir-trees standing far out on a heath. The number of 
eggs laid is generally five, but I have known them to 
be content with four ; while, on the other hand, six 
were once deposited. While the hen is sitting, the ac¬ 
tions of the male bird are well worth watching: he 
dashes indiscriminately at any bird that approaches, 
be it stock dove or perigrine falcon, and when the 
intruder has been utterly routed, he shoots back to the 
nest, celebrating his victory by a sonorous croak, turn¬ 
ing, as he utters it, completely over on his back, an 
action which does not, however, in the least degree im¬ 
pede his onward career. He then resumes his look-out 
station on one of the highest boughs, perhaps leaving 
it again at the expiration of a few minutes to repel 
another invasion.” 


222 


CORVIDS. 


i: VS ESS ORES. 
CONIROSTRES. 


CORVIDJi. 


CARRION CROW. 

CORBIE CROW, BLACK NEB. 

CORVUS CORONE. 

PLATE LVIII. FIG. I. 

Some years ago a controversy took place between Mr. 
Waterton and Mr. Rennie, with regard to the habits of 
the Carrion Crow—Mr. Rennie maintaining that the bird 
is in the habit of covering its eggs during absence, and 
Mr. Waterton denying the correctness of the statement. 
Mr. Waterton, as is well known, has spent much of his 
life amongst the feathered tribes, either in this country 
or abroad. When at his own residence, no one, perhaps, 
has so good an opportunity as he has of studying the 
habits of our British birds; for all the most persecuted 
tribes of which, his park is a refuge and a home ; there 
the hawk, the crow, the owl, and the magpie, treated as 
vermin and brutally butchered by the gamekeepers of 
other English gentlemen, are alike unmolested. 

It was always, at school and for many years after I left 
it, a habit with me to look into every bird’s nest within 
my reach, and I have very rarely passed the nests of the 
magpie or the crow without indulging myself with a peep 
at their contents, but I have never seen the eggs of the 
latter covered, as mentioned by Mr. Rennie. 

The Carrion Crow builds its nest in deciduous trees 



LVIII 














CARRION CROW. 


223 


chiefly, sometimes in a thick fir-tree; it is made of sticks, 
strongly cemented together with clay; it is then lined 
with roots, and afterwards with a large quantity of wool, 
the fur of animals, and other soft materials, often two or 
three inches thick. The eggs are four or five in number, 
and greatly resemble those of the raven, the hooded crow, 
and the rook. From those of the rook it is at times very 
difficult to distinguish them ; they are, however, usually 
a good deal larger. They vary much from the deeply- 
coloured egg of the plate to a light tinted variety, similar 
to that of the hooded crow now figured. Some are of 
a light blue, without any spots whatever, marked here 
and there with undertints of grey. I have chosen the 
figures of the plate that they might not only represent 
each its own species, but that of the nearly allied species 
as well. 

In 1832 a pair of these birds took a singular fancy into 
their heads : deserting the habits of their forefathers, and 
the society of their species, they repaired to one of the 
Fern Islands to breed, apparently thus subjecting them¬ 
selves to very great inconvenience. Contrary to their 
usual habits, they built their nest upon the ground, there 
being no trees on the islands; it was of most curious con¬ 
struction, and instead of the sticks of which it is in other 
instances composed, which the neighbourhood would not 
supply, the outside of the nest was formed of small pieces 
of turf, neatly laid upon each other, and formed into a 
compact wall; the space within was lined with a quan¬ 
tity of wool, which was all brought from the mainland, 
at the distance of four or five miles. 


224 


CORVIDAE. 


INSESSORES. 

CONIROSTEES. 


CORVID.JE. 


HOODED CHOW. 

ROYSTON CROW. 

CORVUS CORNIX. 

PLATE LVIII. FIG. IT. 

The Hooded Crow is a rare bird in England during 
the summer months ; a few instances only being recorded 
in which it has remained so far south to breed. It is, 
then, not uncommon in Scotland, and is sparingly dis¬ 
persed through the Orkney and Shetland Islands. The 
Hooded Crow has been known to breed near Scarbo¬ 
rough, and also in the neighbourhood of Berwick-on- 
Tweed. It seems to accommodate itself with indiffer¬ 
ence as to the position of its nest. In Scotland it is 
found, according to Mr. Selby, in trees, rocks, and pre¬ 
cipices on the sea-shore. In Shetland, where trees do 
not exist, and it would be as difficult to find a stick, 
the Hooded Crow builds its nest upon the cliffs, or sin¬ 
gle rocks, stacks as they are there appropriately called, 
which are surrounded by the sea ; and resorts to the 
same substitute as the eagles, forming it of the long and 
very flexible branches of the larger sea-weeds, and lining 
it with quantities of dry grass, wool, hair, and other soft 
materials. 

In Norway they inhabit here and there the boundless, 
forests, but never at any great distance from the sea, 


HOODED CROW. 


225 


arising, probably, from their partiality to shell-fish. On 
one of the islands at sea we found a solitary pair, which 
had got their nest in a rock, in the very camp of their 
enemies, the sea-gulls, which took every possible oppor¬ 
tunity of annoying them, and, upon our driving one of 
them from the nest which contained eggs, persecuted it 
without mercy. One of the eggs was hatched, and 
another just chipped. We wished much to obtain the 
shell without causing the death of the young one ; and, 
in order to accomplish this, my companion, Mr. John * 
Hancock, performed the accouchement most admirably 
with a lancet, leaving the young Crow sprawling unin¬ 
jured at the bottom of the nest. 

The eggs are four or five in number, and do not differ 
from those of the carrion crow and rook, except in size. 
In shape and colour they are more nearly allied to those 
of the rook, and are subject to the same jackdaw-like 
variety as the other species. The egg of the carrion 
crow, figured in the plate, is intended to represent the 
typical appearance of those of this species; the light- 
coloured egg of the Hooded Crow, a variety to which 
they are both subject. 


Q 


CORVIDAE. 


226 * 


INSESS ORES. 
CONTROSTRES. 


CORVID.E. 


ROOK. 

Coimrs FRUGILEGUS. 


PLATE LIX. 


The Rook is one of those birds which, courting the 
society of man, has become almost as familiar to us as 
the domestic poultry which we rear. 

Its noisy presence in the spring adds one of the great 
charms to a country life; and how much of the venerable 
respectability of some of the finest old halls and man¬ 
sions in our land would be lost without it! The old 
rookery, which has for centuries been the gathering-place 
of generations of these birds, is almost as inseparable in 
our ideas from some of the old homes of England, as the 
stately avenue by which we approach them. 

During the first bright days which foretell the early 
opening of the spring, when the thrush alone has hailed 
its approaching glories with a glad song of welcome, the 
cheerful cawing of the Rooks, as they take possession of 
the well-known trees, breaks upon the ear, which is open 
to the simple music of Nature, with a peculiar charm. 

The jealous bickerings which take place, as each one is 
anxious to secure to itself some favourite bough, the fre¬ 
quent fights which occur before a proper understanding 
is established amongst them, and the general attack upon, 
and destruction of, the nest of some one which has broken 


LTX. 









ROOK. 


227 


the laws of the community—all may afford scenes of 
constant amusement. 

The thieving propensity, so curious a characteristic of 
the genus, of which the Rooks inherit their full share, 
leading them to pilfer from each other's nests, is, too, the 
source of many a broil in the rookery. 

That the Rooks have laws amongst themselves, by 
which to regulate the society, the following anecdotes, 
given by Mr. Jesse, will sufficiently point out. Speak¬ 
ing of the Rooks at Hampton Court, he says, “ they are 
very particular that none of the society build away from 
the usual line of trees. A pair did so one spring; and, 
when their nest was finished, at least fifty others came 
and demolished it in a few minutes." 

He mentions another instance of a pair of birds which, 
though only separating themselves so far from the rest 
of the community as to build their nest in the lower 
branches of the same trees, were nevertheless pertina¬ 
ciously persecuted by the others; having their nest de¬ 
stroyed by them no less than twenty-two times before 
they were permitted to complete it. He adds, that he 
has always observed that, if a pair of Rooks attempt to 
make their nest apart from the rest of the fraternity, and 
in a tree not used by them before, the other birds in¬ 
variably pull it in pieces. A similar occurrence took place 
near a cottage which I once occupied on the Hampstead 
road. A pair of Rooks built their nest at the top of a 
tall ash-tree. It was completed, and all seemed to pros¬ 
per with them—but the evil day soon came ; their elope¬ 
ment had been discovered; the place of their retreat 
traced: they were pursued by a large party of their 
comrades, and the nest which they had constructed with 
so much anxiety, was pulled to pieces in a few seconds. 

It is not to the rookery alone that their presence im- 

q 2 


228 


CORVIDAE. 


parts an interest. They may be watched as they scour 
the country round in search of materials for their nests, 
visiting each tree in its turn, and breaking off and re¬ 
jecting numerous branches, till the one suitable to their 
purpose is obtained. The elm, the branches of which are 
pliable and easily broken off, is their favourite tree, and 
of its twigs their nests are chiefly formed. I have many 
times watched them when overladen with too large a 
branch, after many an ineffectual struggle to reach their 
nests, borne away headlong before the wind, till at last 
compelled to let it drop. 

It is, too, an interesting sight in the neighbourhood of 
a large rookery, to watch these birds as they homeward 
wend their way in an evening after a long day's forage in 
the fields, and to mark, as I have often done, the exactitude 
with which, for a number of evenings together, they will 
keep to the self-same track, and vary that track accord¬ 
ing to the season of the year. I was led to notice this 
more particularly by being told by some friends of mine, 
who had observed them for many years, that at one sea¬ 
son of the year, the spring, the Rooks invariably make 
their homeward flight so nearly above their residence as 
to be just seen from the front windows ; and that, in the 
autumn, they always go a little behind the house. 

Amongst our farmers are to be met with some of the 
most ignorant and prejudiced of men, and to that igno¬ 
rance is to be attributed the most unjust and, to their 
own interest, detrimental persecution that the Rook has 
met with at their hands. 

That it does occasionally consume a portion of the 
grain after it is sown, there can be no doubt; but the 
injury to the forthcoming crop has been far more than 
counterbalanced by its destruction of grubs when the 
held was ploughed In one instance which I will men- 


ROOK. 


229 


tion—for I have no wish to do them more than justice— 
their consumption of the seed-corn had been very con¬ 
siderable. This was, however, during a season which, 
remarkable for its drought, had caused a scarcity of their 
usual food, and was a rare instance, there being no notice 
of this habit of the Rook of which I am aware, with the 
exception of one during the same spring, in the Maga¬ 
zine of Natural History. I had occasion to visit a rookery 
for the purpose of obtaining varieties of the eggs to 
draw; and, when looking out for the tree which pre¬ 
sented the fewest difficulties to climb, I was much sur¬ 
prised by observing the ground beneath them strewed 
with pellets composed of the shell of the oat, and similar 
to those disgorged by owls. In quantity they would have 
filled some bushels; but it must be remembered that 
these were gathered from many a hundred acres round. 

The time at which the Rook meets with the bitterest 
persecution is just when it is doing the greatest good; 
and, when mercilessly shot down by the ignorant farmer, 
is heaping coals of fire on his head. 

I remember once having pointed out to me by a farmer, 
who lives near Alnwick, one of his fields which was then 
black with Rooks ; and, to prove to me the mischief they 
were doing him, he led me to the spot. It was a grass 
field, and, sure enough, the place bore evidence of de¬ 
struction ; its lovely green was gone, and scarcely a blade 
of grass remained standing. The Rooks had pulled up 
the entire surface of the already dead turf, and were re¬ 
galing themselves upon the myriads of grubs which now 
lay beneath it, which had done all the mischief by eating 
the roots of the grass asunder; and, but for the timely 
interference of these useful birds, another summer’s in¬ 
crease of their ranks would have enabled them to carry 
devastation far and wide. 


230 


CORVIDiE. 


Mr. Apperley, who farmed a property attached to one 
of the largest rookeries in this country, at Bilton Hall, 
near Rugby, thus witnesses in their favour : “ So large, 
indeed, is this rookery, as to have given the name of 
‘ Bilton Rook Feast' to a kind of wake held in the vil¬ 
lage at the time the young birds are considered fit to eat. 
Independent of the climbers, the gamekeepers of several 
neighbouring gentlemen used to attend with their guns; 
and I have known upwards of a hundred dozen birds 
taken of a morning. I am, however, enabled to say that, 
numerous as these birds were, I never found injury from 
them to my crops.” 

Rooks seem greatly to prefer those trees which are 
lofty, and near some dwelling. At times they, however, 
deviate rather whimsically from their usual habits. There 
are several instances of their building in trees of a lower 
growth, as in the case of a rookery mentioned by Mr. Ren¬ 
nie, in the Duke of Buccleuclfis grounds at Dalkeith, 
where they built in young oak-trees, none of which 
were more than ten or twelve feet high, although large 
trees were abundant in the neighbourhood. 

There are a few trees in one of the streets in Newcastle, 
which have long been crowned by the nests of these 
birds; but during the spring of 1832, several pairs, dis¬ 
senting from some of the proceedings of their neighbours, 
left their ancestral trees, and built their nests amongst 
the smoky chimneys of the nearest houses. But, per¬ 
haps, the most remarkable instance in ornithological 
architecture is that mentioned by Bewick of the pair of 
Rooks which, for ten successive years, built their nest 
and reared their young ones on the weather-cock of the 
Exchange spire, turning about with every change of wind. 

The nest of the Rook is built of sticks cemented with 
clay, mixed with tufts of grass, and is lined with roots. 


KOOK. 


231 


The eggs are four or five in number, and vary much ; 
they are broader in proportion to their length than those 
of the raven, and carrion and hooded crows : they are 
sometimes thickly mottled all over, like eggs of the 
raven; sometimes suffused witli green, like those of the 
carrion crow, and sometimes much like eggs of the jack¬ 
daw. 


232 


CORVIDAE. 


INSESS ORES. 
COXIROSTRES. 


CORVIDJE. 


JACKDAW. 

CORVUS MONEDULA. 

PLATE LX. FIG. II. 

The Jackdaw builds its nest in many opposite situa¬ 
tions ; most commonly in holes of ruins, in lofty cliurcli 
steeples, being numerous in our cathedrals ; in cliffs and 
precipices, and sometimes in holes of decayed trees. In 
addition to these localities, Mr. H. T. Frere states in the 
“ Zoologist/" that he has seen a nest of this species about 
thirty feet from the ground upon a bough close to the 
bole of a silver fir-tree. A most curious instance is men¬ 
tioned by White in his “ History of Selborne,"" in which 
he states that a race of these birds took it into their 
heads to breed in the burrows of a rabbit-warren. 

The nest is composed of sticks, lined with wool, dry 
grass, and such like materials ; an almost incredible 
quantity being sometimes used to form its foundation in 
a chimney or hollow tree, and raise it to the required 
height. Mr. Wolley says that he saw the nest in the 
turret at Eton, mentioned by Mr. Jesse; that it was, he 
believes, raised no less than nine feet from its founda¬ 
tion ; “ taking its rise from two or three steps of the cir¬ 
cular stairs, it was built up compactly, and of a nearly 
uniform breadth, to a lancet window in the perpendicular 
wall, the bottom of which window was not otherwise 
sufficiently wide to support a nest/" The eggs are four 
or five in number, and do not differ materially. 


JACKDAW. 


233 


Mr. Wolley, referring to the point in dispute, whether 
or not birds of the crow kind cover their eggs, says, in 
the “ Zoologist/' “ I have a fact to offer on this disputed 
point. About ten days ago, Henry Walter and myself 
amused ourselves by climbing up to Jackdaws' nests 
placed in holes in the trees about Bearwood, which is on 
the borders of Windsor Forest. In the course of three 
days we must have examined several score of nests. On 
the first day none of the eggs were covered, but on the 
second and third days, we found that several of the nests, 
that had been visited before, now had their eggs either 
partially covered by loose pieces of wool, or the eggs, in 
some cases, were nearly buried in the woolly lining of 
the nest, and this, whether the bird had just flown from 
the nest or not." 


234 


CORVIDiE. 


INS ESS ORES. 
CONIROSTRES. 


COR VIDjE. 


MAGPIE. 

PIANET. 

Pica caudata. 

PLATE LX. FIG. III. 

This elegant and well-known bird is another of those 
which are in this country doomed to the most extermi¬ 
nating destruction, because they exercise those instincts 
which are implanted in them by the God of Nature. It 
has become with us, in consequence of its persecuted life, 
and contrary to its natural disposition, one of the shyest 
and most wary birds we meet with : a little of its nature 
will, however, even here prevail, in its selection of those 
trees for its nest which are near some human dwelling. 
In Norway, a country where it meets with nothing but 
kindness, it is upon the most familiar terms with the na¬ 
tives. In the town of Drontlieim it builds its nest under 
the eaves of their warehouses, and on their churches; 
upon the roofs of which, and the surrounding tombstones, 
a dozen of them may be seen at one time. 

In the country, and even upon the islands adjacent to 
the coast, we scarcely saw a single house without two or 
more of these lively birds, which commonly build their 
nests under the very eaves, or in some stunted tree close 
by, where the nests are piled upon each other for many 
feet in depth, the accumulation of the undisturbed and 
quiet possession of many years. 


MAGPIE. 


235 


We were always delighted with the kind feeling evinced 
by the inhabitants of Norway towards the feathered race: 
in some of their houses, holes are cut for the admission 
of the starling ; against others pieces of wood are nailed 
to support the nest of the house martin. At Christmas, 
too, sheaves of com are placed upon the roofs of their 
houses, that their feathered friends may join in the gene¬ 
ral festivity of the season. It is in consequence of this 
kindness that the Magpie walks into their houses with 
pert confidence. In no instance did we see one in the 
forests far from man's dwelling-place ; on the contrary, 
its appearance was always a sure and welcome sign of our 
vicinity to some house. 

The Magpie builds its nest for the most part in trees ; 
sometimes in thorn-bushes and hedges, at a few feet only 
from the ground. The Rev. J. Hall gives the following 
interesting account of a nest of these birds which he met 
with in Scotland : “ On the road between Huntly and 
Portsoy, I observed two Magpies hopping round a goose¬ 
berry-bush in a small garden, near a poor-looking house, 
in a peculiar manner, and flying out and into the bush. 
I stepped aside to see what they were doing, and found, 
from the poor man and his wife, that these Magpies for 
several successive years had built their nest and brought 
up their young in this bush ; and that the foxes, cats, &c., 
might not interrupt them, they had not only barricaded 
the nest, but had encircled the bush with briars and 
thorns in a formidable manner/’ 

Some have supposed that those Magpies which build 
their nests in hedges are of a distinct species, and Mr. Wil- 
mot tells me, that he has usually noticed that their eggs 
were less. My own experience does not corroborate 
his observation. In firmness of texture and strength of 
construction, no piece of architecture of like materials 


236 


CORVIDAE. 


can at all vie with the nest of the Magpie: its outside 
is of thorns arched over, and so compactly put together, 
that it is by no means an easy matter to force an entrance 
for the hand, except at the proper doorway; the state of 
my hands during bird-nesting time at school would have 
frequently borne evidence of the fact. The nest is so 
thickly cemented at the bottom, and plastered inside 
with clay, that, when placed at the top of a high tree, 
shot will scarcely penetrate it; the lining is composed 
of fine roots : the eggs are six or seven, and rarely eight, 
in number : they differ much, both in colour and in size. 
They are sometimes larger than the one figured, and more 
sparingly spotted ; sometimes very little larger than the 
eggs of the jay, and almost as thickly freckled throughout. 







LX 







JAY. 


237 


INSESSORES. 

CONIROSTRES. 


COR VI DPR. 


JAY. 

Garrulus glandarius. 

PLATE LX. FIG. I. 

The liarsli cry of the Jay, “discordant heard alone/' if 
not disagreeable, is to myself, at least, unaccompanied 
with any of those delightful sensations which the wild 
wood-note of every other bird never ceases to impart. 
I speak in ignorance of the more agreeable notes men¬ 
tioned by Montagu, never having heard any other than 
the loud, peevish, quarrelsome sort of cry which it mostly 
utters. The Jay is usually a very shy bird, and difficult 
to approach, hides, during the breeding-season, in the 
thickest and least frequented part of our woods, and 
builds its nest upon the boughs of a low tree. A pair of 
birds built their nest in Oatlands Park two years ago, 
placing it near the top of a tall Scotch fir-tree. It is 
formed of sticks, lined with fine roots, and is, in some 
instances, very compactly put together. 

The eggs are from four to six in number, and differ 
considerably; but, as from their size they cannot easily 
be mistaken for those of any other bird, I have not 
thought it necessary to figure any of the varieties ; they 
are frequently much darker, as well as lighter, than the 
plate ; are sometimes much browner in their colouring, 
and not unfrequently encircled towards the larger end 
with a distinct ring of darker spots ; in some instances, 
this ring is near the smaller end. 


picid^. 


238 


IN'S ESS ORBS. 
SOANSORES. 


PICIDJE. 


GREAT BLACK WOODPECKER, 

PlCUS MARTIUS. 

# 

PLATE LXI. FIG. I. 

To the several instances mentioned by Mr. Yarrell, in 
which the Great Black Woodpecker has been seen in this 
country, I may add one, communicated by Mr. T. Meynell 
of York, who says that he well remembers having seen 
a pair of these birds in the pleasure-grounds attached to 
the Friarage, his father’s residence at Yarm, in Yorkshire. 

We saw them but twice in the Norwegian forests, look¬ 
ing, when flying at a short distance, much like a crow; 
their nesting-places were like those of the other species, 
in holes in the trunks of trees. The eggs are, according 
to Temminck, three in number; they are, like those of all 
our species of woodpeckers, of a pure white and glossy, 
as though they had been varnished. To the kindness of 
Mr. Wilmot I am indebted for the use of this rare egg to 
draw. 


ixr 







GREEN WOODPECKER. 


239 


J NS ESS ORES. 
SC AN SORES. 


PIQIDJE. 


GREEN WOODPECKER. 

RAIN-PIE. 

PlCUS VIRIDIS. 

PLATE LXI. FIG II. 

The Green Woodpecker very soon makes known its 
neighbourhood by its loud and very singular cry, which 
is the more remarkable in rainy weather; the loud 
laughing note which it then utters has often almost 
reconciled me to a wet jacket. 

The Green Woodpecker builds its nest in the trunks 
of trees, frequently at a considerable height above the 
ground. In Norway, where the churches are chiefly of 
wood, we noticed one of these birds, which had chosen 
for its nest the elevated situation of the spire, in the side 
of which it had most irreverently bored its hole. 

This hole is frequently so small that the eggs are 
accessible only after the long and laborious use of the 
hatchet; they are four or five in number, and are laid 
upon the fine particles of the rotten wood which remain 
at the bottom of the hole. 

Mr. Newton has kindly sent me a drawing of the 
coloured eggs of this species mentioned by himself and 
others in the “ Zoologist/' It is smeared over in the 
same manner as the eggs of the grebes, and I have no 
doubt at all arises from a vegetable stain. 


240 


PICID/E. 


INSESSORES. 

SCANSORES. 


P1CIDJE 


GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER. 

PlCUS MAJOR. 

PLATE LXI. FIG. III. 

The Great Spotted Woodpecker is either a rare or 
local bird, or one which most effectually evades the sight; 
for much as I have been out in the fields, and always on 
the watch for such things, it has very rarely been my 
lot to see it alive, and I have eagerly looked for it in 
places where the green woodpecker and wryneck were 
very abundant. 

Never having myself seen a nest of this species, I have 
recourse to the information of Mr. H. Doubleday, of 
Epping, who is ever on the look-out for anything curious 
in natural history, and ever ready liberally to impart 
to others the information thus gained. He notices the 
rarity of the bird even there : “ The Great Spotted Wood¬ 
pecker is a rare bird here, and I have seen only three of 
their nests; these were all in the horizontal branches or 
arms of oaks, where a smaller branch had been broken 
off, and the part had decayed ; the place was carefully 
plastered up, so as only to leave a hole just large enough 
for the bird to enter; in one instance, where the arm was 
hollow, the nest was nearly three feet from the opening. 
The eggs, five in number, were laid upon the bare wood, 
which was decayed and soft.” 


LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER. 


241 


LVSESSORES. 
SCAN SO RES. 


PICIDjE. 


LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER. 

PlCUS MINOR. 

PLATE LXI. FIG. IV. 

Like the closely allied species preceding, the Lesser 
Spotted Woodpecker breeds in the holes of trees, laying 
its eggs, which are, according to Montagu, five in num¬ 
ber, upon the bare rotten wood, and sometimes at a con¬ 
siderable distance from the entrance of the hole. 

Mr. Thurnall, who takes the nests of this species near 
Whittlesford, in Cambridgeshire, has obligingly sent me 
the following particulars. He says that he has generally 
seen the nests in the dead branches of the tree, but also 
in the living trunk ; they are made by the birds them¬ 
selves, and are usually from twelve to twenty-five feet 
above the ground ; but that one which he found in a 
pollard willow, was only three feet high. When these 
holes occur in the dead branch of the tree, they are first 
bored at right angles to the branch till they reach its 
centre, when they pass along it for from twelve to twenty 
inches. The eggs, five in number, are laid upon the bare 
wood about the middle of May. 


242 


PICIDiE. 


INSESSORES. 

SCANSORES. 


PJCIDyE. 


WRYNECK. 

Yunx torquilla. 

PLATE LXII. FIG. I. 

The cry of the Wryneck is as singular as that of the 
green woodpecker; and, in some instances, very closely 
resembles that of the kestrel hawk. It makes its nest 
in the holes of trees, and seems partial to those of the 
apple-tree, chiefly frequenting orchards during the breed¬ 
ing season: it usually lays seven eggs, and Montagu 
says, extends them to nine or ten in number. Mr. Salmon 
mentions a remarkable instance, in which he took no less 
than twenty-two eggs from a nest of this bird, robbing 
it of the eggs at five different times. 

Although I have spent much of my life in the country, 
and have been always on the look-out for it, I have rarely 
seen the Wryneck well, and was, therefore, the more 
surprised when, in going one day along a public road, I 
passed two of them seated side by side on the top of a 
stake fence. 


JLXLL 



I V 


! I I 












CHEEPER. 


243 


IN'S ESS ORES. 
SCANSORES. 


CERT HI A DJI. 


CREEPER. 
Certhia familiaris. 


PLATE LXIT. FIG. II. 

The eggs of the Creeper resemble almost as closely 
those of the blue and marsh titmouse, as some of the 
eggs of the nuthatch do those of the greater titmouse; 
they are, however, usually rather longer in proportion to 
their breadth, and have the spots more concentrated at 
the larger end : if mixed with eggs of the titmouse, and 
even with some of those of the willow-wren, it would be 
very uncertain work to separate them. 

The Creeper builds in holes of trees, in such places as 
those out of which a branch has been torn, or where the 
bark protrudes from the tree, leaving sufficient room be¬ 
hind it. White mentions a nest which was built against 
a house-end, behind some loose plaster. 

The nest is formed of dry grass and bits of moss, very 
loosely put together, and lined with feathers. Mr. Yarrell 
thus describes one of which he has added a drawing in 
his work. “ It is formed, on the outer surface, with small 
twigs, within which there is a thick layer of fine grass, 
mixed up and lined with black wool and a few small 
dark-coloured feathers.” 

The Creeper breeds early, and lays from six to nine eggs- 

n 2 


CFJITHIADAL 


244 


1 NS ESS 0 R ES> 

SCANSOREP. 


CER Till A BJE. 


WREN. 

KITTY WREN. 

Troglodytes vulgaris. 


PLATE LXII. FIG. III. 

The nest of the Wren is of an oval form, arched over, 
and protected on every side. It is a most beautiful speci¬ 
men of strength, warmth, and neatness, and so compact 
and closely interwoven, that one in my collection might 
be kicked about the floor without much disarranging or 
disuniting those minute particles of moss of which it was 
first formed. It is usually constructed of green mosses ; 
and from its close resemblance to the situation in which 
it is placed, is admirably protected from discovery. Its 
position is most commonly against the moss-grown side 
of a rock, a bank, or an old tree, in the decayed side of 
which the nest is formed; and, but for the small hole of 
entrance, would be regarded as only a portion of the tree. 
I have found it on the lower branch of a spruce fir-tree 
in the middle of a furze-bush, and constructed chiefly of 
dry grass, sometimes covered outside with ferns ; and not 
unfrequently against the side of a clover stack, formed 
entirely of the clover, and becoming so completely a piece 
of the stack itself, that were it not for the flight of the 
bird from the spot, it would have run no risk of detection. 


VVKEN. 


U5 

I have endeavoured as much as possible to make the 
place where I am residing (a portion of the old Oatlands 
park) attractive to every species of bird; and, much to 
my delight, have met with the especial approbation of 
Kitty Wren, which, though neither brilliant in colour nor 
yet in song, is one of a trio which are almost household 
birds, and help us by their cheerful presence through the 
dreary winter months. I have planted a number of 
junipers, and there is scarcely one without a nest, which 
is so incorporated with the shrub, that I have sometimes 
had much difficulty in finding the hole of entrance, fear¬ 
ful lest by moving the branches for the purpose, I might 
disarrange the nest. 

No bird is so jealous of the discovery of its nest as the 
Wren. Amongst a great number of nests which I have 
found in the progress of building, I have never known 
one proceeded with after having been once discovered 
and touched, it being quite impossible to thrust the finger 
into the tiny hole of entrance without disarranging the 
neatness and beautiful symmetry of its form. This I 
have always found to cause its abandonment by the 
owner, and may readily account for the number of un¬ 
finished nests, which we used at school to call “cocks' 
nests," supposing that they were built by the male bird 
for its own particular abode. 

When incubation is proceeded with, and the eggs have 
been sat upon for some time, the Wren, like all other 
birds, becomes much more attached to them, and is not 
then so easily driven to forsake them. The Rev. W. D. Fox 
lias communicated to me a most remarkable instance of 
this attachment in one which would suffer its nest to be 
taken in the hand and examined, remaining the while 
quietly seated on its eggs. 

The Wren is a solitary, hardy little bird, and may be 


246 


CERTHIADiE. 


seen on some of our bleakest and most unsheltered dis¬ 
tricts. We saw it on some of the most sterile heaths of 
Shetland ; the only support for its nest being the bank of 
some mountain gully; its only shelter, the overhanging 
sod. 

Notwithstanding the number of eggs which the Wren 
has been said to lay, I have never succeeded in finding 
more than eight, and rarely more than seven, in the same 
nest. They are usually less spotted than the Figure, 
and are not unfrequently quite white. 

Ornithologists differ as to the inside of the Wren's 
nest; some maintain that it is thickly lined with feathers, 
whilst others deny that it lias any in its composition. I 
have found it both with and without such lining, but 
think that it is most frequently finished with a few 
feathers. 


NUTHATCH. 


247 


INSESS ORES. 
SC AN SO RES. 


CERTIII A DAE. 


NUTHATCH. 

SlTTA EUROPiEA. 


PLxVTE LXII. FIti. IV. 

The Nuthatch, like the woodpeckers, breeds in holes 
of trees, the entrance to which is admirably protected 
and contracted by a plaster of clay, till it is just suffi¬ 
ciently large to allow the ingress of the bird. This en¬ 
trance it defends against its enemies with the greatest 
courage; making a hissing noise, like the blue titmouse, 
when attacked. The nest, when there is anything be¬ 
tween the eggs and the bare wood, consists of a few dry 
leaves, or bits of bark. 

The Rev. A. C. Smith, of Yatesbury rectory, has sent 
me the following interesting description of the nest of a 
Nuthatch now in his possession, which was taken from 
the hole in a wall where a brick had been omitted, which 
hole the same birds had inhabited for many years. He 
says : “ The birds plastered up with a thick wall of clay 
and small gravel stones this large aperture, only leaving 
one small orifice, by which they entered their house. 
One summer when the young birds were departed, I cut 
away with a knife this clay wall, and fitted it into a box, 
and so carried off the whole nest, which I now have. 
The nest itself was a deep bed of pieces of the inner 
bark of the Scotch fir-tree. I should think the quantity 
accumulated there must have been more than would fill 


248 


CERTHlAim 


a pint cup. It is astonishing how soft, and warm, and 
clean, this simple nest seems. I have it now, and it sur¬ 
prises all who see it. The hole by which the Nuthatches 
entered was peculiarly small. I could scarcely get one 
finger in through it.” 

I should have had difficulty in understanding how a 
nest lined with the bark of a tree could be, as Mr. Smith 
describes it, “soft and warm/' if he had not kindly sent 
me a portion of it, which is thinner than the paper on 
which I write ; tough, and as pliable as the leaves with 
which other birds line their nests. I have tried in vain 
to detach from the tree pieces of bark as fine. The eggs 
are from five to seven in number, and in some of their 
varieties very much resemble those of the greater tit¬ 
mouse; others are marked with large blotches of red and 
grey, and are sometimes of an oval form, much blunted 
at the smaller end, like the figure of the plate. 


HOOPOE. 


249 


I NS ESS ORES. 
SC AN SO RES. 


CERTIII A DAi. 


HOOPOE. 

Upupa epops. 

PLATE LXIII. FIG. III. 

* 

Montagu mentions an unfinished nest of the Hoopoe, 
which was found in Hampshire; Mr. Blythe says that a 
pair frequented a garden in the neighbourhood of Tooting, 
Surrey, in the summer of 1833; and Mr. Jesse says that, 
some years ago, a pair of Hoopoes built their nest and 
hatched their young in a tree close to the house at Park- 
end, near Chichester. The best account of the summer 
habits of the Hoopoe is by Mr. E. H. Greenhow, of Tyne¬ 
mouth, which I have transcribed from the seventh volume 
of “ Loudon’s Magazine."—“On the Bordeaux side of the 
Garonne, and near the city, are large spaces of marshy 
ground, intersected by broad ditches and creeks, termi¬ 
nating in the river; where, from the advantage derived 
from the water, many poplars and willows are planted for 
the sake of the twigs, which are much used for tying vines. 
These trees being topped at about ten or twelve feet from 
the ground, so as to induce them to sprout much, become 
very thick; and, in the course of a few years, gradually 
decaying at the centre, are attacked by numerous tribes 
of insects. In these retired places, which are frequented 
only by a few cowherds and country people, the Hoopoe, 
which is a very shy bird, may be frequently observed ex¬ 
amining the rotton wood, and feeding on the insects with 


250 


CERTHIADJE. 


which it abounds The Hoopoe flies low and seldom, 
unless when disturbed, its food being so abundant as to 
require little search. It remains the whole year, and 
breeds in a hollow willow about the end of May, laying 
two eggs. The young come out in June." 






1XIII. 
















CUCKOO. 


251 


1NSESS ORES. CUCULI DjE. 

SC AN SO RES. 


CUCKOO 

CUCULUS CANORUS. 

PLATE LXIII. FIGS. I. AND EL 

So much is already known of the singular, and appa¬ 
rently unnatural, way in which the Cuckoo deserts its egg 
after laying it in the nest, and leaving it to the care of 
another and a strange bird, that I have not thought it 
necessary to repeat the often-quoted and interesting ob¬ 
servations of the late Dr. Jenner; neither have I any 
original ones of my own to offer. It would, however, 
have afforded me much pleasure, could I have thrown 
any light on these interesting points with regard to 
the economy of this bird,—what number of eggs it lays 
in one season, and whether or not it ever carries its 
egg, after having laid it, to the nest of another bird. 
Mr. Williamson, of Scarborough, informs me that he has 
found the egg of the Cuckoo in the nest of the rock-lark, 
close under the projecting shelf of a rock, and in a situa¬ 
tion where he considers it impossible for the Cuckoo to 
have deposited it in any other way. La Vaillant, in his 
“ Travels in Africa/' mentions having in many instances 
shot a species of Cuckoo in the act of thus transporting 
its own egg in its mouth. 

The eggs of the Cuckoo are found in the nests of se¬ 
veral of our small birds. Of these, Mr. Yarrell enume¬ 
rates thirteen species, to which 1 have to add the name 


252 


CUCULID.E. 


of the grasshopper warbler. The egg has been found 
also in the nests of some of the larger species,—the 
thrush, the blackbird, and the red-backed shrike. The 
Cuckoo seems, however, instinctively to prefer those, the 
eggs of which most nearly resemble its own. Amongst 
these are the larks, pipits, and the pied wagtail, to the 
eggs of which some light varieties of those of the Cuckoo 
bear considerable resemblance. It most frequently, how¬ 
ever, makes choice of the nest of the titlark, which is 
common on those open heaths, the favorite resort of both. 
The egg, which is remarkable for its small size, is thus, 
together with its colour, admirably fitted for the decep¬ 
tion which it is intended to practise. Though very simi¬ 
lar in some instances to those of the skylark, there is a 
character about it peculiar to itself, by which it may be 
readily known. It is oval, and wider in proportion to 
its length; it is also usually marked with minute black 
dots. As I have stated above, there are light-coloured 
varieties, a good deal like the eggs of the pied wagtail. 


I 


ROLLER. 


253 


IJVSESSOXES. 

FISSIROSTRES. 


MEHOPIBjE. 


ROLLER. 

CORACIAS GARRULA. 

PLATE LXIV. FIG. HI. 

The Roller is one of those few occasional visitants 
of the British Islands, the brilliancy of whose plumage 
seems almost to tell us that it has but little right to 
a place in our catalogue. 

The few instances of its occurence with us have been 
chiefly in the north of Britain. It is met with in the 
forests of Germany, and is not unfrequent in other parts 
of Europe. 

It is said to breed in the holes of decayed trees; and 
in those districts where trees are scarce, to make its nest, 
like the bee-eater and the kingfisher, in a bank of earth, 
which appears to be its more natural position, if we may 
judge from the appearance of the egg. It lays from four 
to seven eggs, which bear a very close resemblance to 
those of the bee-eater and the kingfisher,—figured in the 
same plate,—in the roundness of their contour and the 
glossy varnished appearance of the shell. 


254 


MEROPIDiE. 


INSESSORES. 

FISSIROSTRES. 


MEROP/DjE. 


BEE-EATER. 

Merops apiaster. 

PLATE LXIV. FIG. II. 

The Bee-eater is, like the last described species, an 
occasional, and but a rare visitor of this country. It 
breeds in various parts of the Continent, making its 
nest in the sandy banks of rivers, in manner much 
like the kingfisher, and lays from five to seven eggs. 
Montagu says that Bee-eaters abound in the south 
of Russia, especially by the rivers Don and Wolga, 
in the banks of which they build their nests, perfo¬ 
rating holes to the depth of half a foot, or more, for 
that purpose. 

The egg from which the accompanying drawing is 
taken is in the collection of Mr. Yarrell, and was given 
him by Baron Laugier, who told him that it was taken 
out of a hole perforated four feet deep in the bank of 
a river. 





LXIT. 




* * ■ . ■ ! »■ If ' 







KINGFISHER. 


255 


7NS ESS ORES. HA LCYONIDjE. 

FISS1 ROST RES. 


KINGFISHER. 

Alcedo ispida. 

PLATE LXIV. FIG. T. 

This splendid bird breeds sparingly in the sand-banks 
of many of our rivers, sometimes, as well, in the banks 
of a quarry, in a hole at the depth of two or three feet, 
in which it lays six or seven eggs ; sometimes upon a 
collection of small fish-bones, but, I think, more com¬ 
monly upon the bare sand. 

From the many marvellous and exaggerated accounts 
given of the nest of this bird, Colonel Montagu was in¬ 
duced to pay particular attention to its habits, and gives 
the following very accurate and interesting particulars, 
perfectly agreeing with my own observations. “ The 
hole chosen to breed in is always ascending; at the end 
is scooped a hollow, at the bottom of which is a quantity 
of small fish-bones, nearly half an inch thick, mixed in 
with the earth. This is, undoubtedly, the castings of the 
parent birds, and not the young, for we have found it 
even before they have eggs. The hole in which they 
breed is by no means fouled by the castings ; but, before 
the young are able to fly, it becomes extremely foetid by 
the faeces of the brood, which is of a watery nature, and 
cannot be carried away by the parent birds, as is common 
with most of the smaller species : in defect of which, in¬ 
stinct has taught them to have the entrance to their 


256 


HALCYONIDvE. 


habitation ascending, by which means the filthy matter 
runs off, and may frequently be seen on the outside/' 

Mr. Wolley tells me that the Kingfisher always enters 
its nest by making a direct shoot into its hole from a 
bough opposite to it, and, generally, on the other side of 
the water; it usually forms the hole for itself, and, should 
this be destroyed, will commence another within a few 
inches of it. 

In the summer of last year, as some men were digging 
the foundation for a house in a wild portion of Oatlands 
park, and at a considerable distance from any water, they 
discovered the nest and eggs of a Kingfisher, which was 
built in the gravelly side of a hole from which the roots 
of a tree had been extracted. 

The Rev. A. C. Smith informs me, that at his father’s 
residence in the neighbourhood of Devizes, where there 
is scarcely any running water, a pair of Kingfishers 
“ chose as their resting-place the bank of a pond in a 
cow-yard (in which yard stood about forty cows daily), 
and within twenty yards of a farmhouse, pigsties, and 
all the noise and bustle of a regular farm, and here they 
reared their young." 


SWALLOW. 


257 


INSESS ORES. HIRUNDINIDjE. 

F1SSIROSTRES. 


SWALLOW. 

Hlrundo rustica. 

PLATE LXV. FIGS. III. AND IV. 

There are but few of the minor pleasures of life, to be 
derived from the glorious works with which a kind Pro¬ 
vidence has on all sides surrounded us, that I could not 
more readily consent to part with than the visit of our 
cheerful friends the Swallows. They spend a part of their 
lifelong summer round about our dwellings; and, should we 
go beyond our doors, they are still, like some good spirit, 
hovering o'er us. If the day prove bright and beautiful, 
they may be seen, almost beyond the reach of vision, far 
away in the deep-blue sky. Should the weather be dull 
and cloudy, and we stray forth into the green fields, we 
shall there find them near us; at one moment rapidly 
crossing our path, and in the next coming to meet us. If 
we wander down the banks of the river, and are fond of 
fishing, they will be with us the day long, coursing up and 
down the stream, and ever and anon “ dipping their dap¬ 
pled wings," and, in the beautiful language of Wilson, 
“ sweeping over our fields and rivers, and through our 
very streets, from morning till night, that the light of 
heaven itself, the sky, the trees, or any other common 
objects of Nature, are not better known than the Swal¬ 
lows." 

There are but few so indifferent or unobserving as not 
to greet them with pleasure, on their return to us after a 

s 





258 


HIRUNDINID/E. 


long and gloomy winter. The arrival of the first Swallow 
is hailed by all: it brings with it a thousand recollections 
of “ sunny skies and cloudless weather/' of days spent in 
the open fields, and of pic-nics in the deep green woods. 
On its coming, the trees have been wont to put forth 
their brightest foliage, the meadows have been strewn 
with flowers, the butterfly and the beetle have once more 
come forth from their winter's sleep, and “ the woods its 
welcome sing." 

I never see these dear birds gathering in the autumn, 
ere they take their departure for sunnier skies, or watch 
the last lingering few which the bright days of October 
have induced to tarry behind the rest, without regret 
that they are going to leave us—without feeling that I 
am about to lose my friends, the companions of all my 
solitary summer rambles, or without wishing a heartfelt 
blessing on their distant way. 

Their lives are not only altogether harmless, but every 
hour that they live is spent in doing us good, and to an 
extent of which we can have but little conception; and 
brutal and void of feeling, and ungrateful to that Great 
Being who made them for our good, must that man be, 
who can, in mere wantonness, destroy and carelessly cast 
from him, to rot upon the ground, the beautiful form 
which, but for his thoughtlessness, had been soaring above 
his head full of life and enjoyment? Would that some 
superstitious dread predicted evil to their destroyers; or 
that some reverential feeling, or gratitude for their ser¬ 
vices, would protect them from evil, as the ibis of old, 
the stork of Holland, the purple martin of the United 
States, or even the hero of nursery tales, our own familiar 
robin-red-breast! 

It is now well known that the Swallows will return to 
the same place, and rear their young ones in the same 


SWALLOW. 


259 


nesfc, for many years in succession. A pair had, for 
several years, built their nest in the wash-house adjoin¬ 
ing a cottage near York, finding their way in through a 
broken pane, passing in and out undaunted even on the 
washing-day. The rigour of a severe winter had made 
it necessary to glaze the broken window in the wash¬ 
house; and on the following summer, when the Swallows 
came as usual, and found their ingress prevented, they 
seated themselves upon the clothes-lines, and in repeated 
chattering expressed their disappointment. The pane 
was, however, speedily removed ; for the old lady to 
whom the place belongs is a great lover of their com¬ 
pany, and likes well to hear their cheerful twittering. 

The Swallow makes its nest in our chimneys, in barns, 
out-houses, and sheds, fixing it upon the cross-beams and 
against those that support the roof; occasionally, also, in 
the shaft of a deserted coal-pit. I have seen the nest 
against a door, which was daily opened many times, and 
yet the poor bird continued to sit till the nest was 
shaken down and destroyed, and even built a second 
time, and shared the same fate. Mr. Yarrell gives a 
figure of a nest of this species, which was built upon 
the bough of a sycamore-tree, hanging low over a pond. 

The nest of the Swallow is similar to that of the house 
martin, with the exception of its being open at the top; 
it is made of the same materials, mud and clay, rendered 
more adhesive by mixing with it small pieces of straw; 
it is lined with dry grass and feathers, and contains four 
or five eggs, always readily known from those of any 
other species of bird. 

The variety which I have drawn at figure 4, was sent 
me by Mr. J. W. Johnston, of Dumfries, under the belief 
that it is an egg of the house-martin. As Mr Johnston 
has no positive evidence to confirm this belief, I have 


260 


HIRUNDINIDiE. 


taken the liberty to differ from him, and to figure it as a 
curious variety of the egg of the Swallow, fully persuaded 
myself, that eggs, which are naturally and characteristi¬ 
cally of a pure white, are unchangeably so, and this I be¬ 
lieve to be a law in the colouring of eggs. 


MARTIN. 


261 


INSRSSORES. 

FISSIROSTRES. 


IIIR UNDJNIDvE. 


MARTIN. 

Hirundo urbica. 

PLATE LXV. EIG. II. 

How delightful is it, at the earliest dawn of daylight, 
when first awakening from sleep, to hear the soft, cheer¬ 
ful twitter of this gay bird, as it is forming its clay-built 
shed at the corner of our windows, or returning with 
food for its young ones ; and how barbarous the custom, 
and I deeply regret to say that I have myself been guilty, 
of shooting these inoffensive useful birds ! Ought we not 
rather to receive them as the people of the United States 
do the purple martins, which are everywhere considered 
by them as their friends and benefactors, and boxes pre¬ 
pared and hung against their houses purposely for the 
reception of their nests ? “I never met with more than 
one man/' says Wilson, “ who disliked the martins, and 
this was a penurious close-fisted German, who hated 
them because they ate his bees." 

The martins are, I fear, and I grieve to think it, yearly 
becoming less numerous in this country. In many of our 
villages, where they were very abundant, and their nests 
were clustered together under almost every “ low-roofed 
cottage-ridge," they are now never seen. In Germany, on 
the contrary, where they are unmolested, they so abound, 
that their nests are crowded together in dozens under the 
lowliest roofs. 


262 


HIRUNDINIDiE. 


This cannot arise altogether from the infamous perse¬ 
cution which they meet with from a set of idle vagabonds, 
calling themselves sportsmen, nor yet from any change 
in our climate, because they abound in latitudes further 
north. Mr. Wolley, writing from Muonioniska, in Swe¬ 
dish Lapland, says The House Martin is very abun¬ 
dant here. Round the court-yard of a peasant's house, I 
counted a hundred and sixty nests still remaining, al¬ 
though all those upon one side had lately fallen down. 
It is a general favourite ; and the people everywhere nail 
up narrow planks upon the walls to support the nests. 
There are often three or four rows, one above another, the 
boards being placed at such distance apart that there is 
just room for the nests between." 

Amongst the many natural beauties which surround the 
residence of Chatsworth, there was not one which pleased 
me so much as a large colony of Martins that have esta¬ 
blished themselves at one end of the building. Here the 
good taste of the owner has allowed them to remain un¬ 
molested ; and, many hundreds together, their evolutions 
add a most stirring cheerfulness to the scene. The Mar¬ 
tin builds its nest, as every one is aware, under the eaves 
of our houses and at the corner of our windows ; and, 
although apparently giving a preference to the walls of 
man's dwelling-place, against which it erects its own clay- 
built habitation, there are several places around our coast 
where numbers of Martins breed together, building their 
nests against the surface of the cliffs. In the north of 
Norway there is an island rock, known by the name of 
Torgliattan, remarkable for a broad and lofty tunnel, 
which passes through it from sea to sea. Whilst stand¬ 
ing midway amidst the heaps of rubbish which had fallen 
from its top, and admiring as well the vastness of this 
grand natural archway, as the singularly pleasing views 


MARTIN. 


263 


through each of its mouths, seaward and inshore, we 
noticed some hundreds of Martins" nests, plastered against 
the irregularities of its roof, from which the owners were 
passing in and out in quick succession. 

The nest of the Martin is composed of mud, rendered 
more adhesive by the mixture of small bits of straw; 
and, as observed by White, it is provident enough not to 
advance it too fast, but, by building only in the morning, 
gives it sufficient time to harden, lest, while soft, its own 
weight pull it down. Mr. Couch says, “ I have known 
them neglect a fine morning, and carry on the work 
through the afternoon, from no other apparent reason 
than the facility of procuring mortar at that period from 
a small distance, in a place which, in the morning, was 
covered with the tide/" The lining of the nest is of fine 
grass and feathers. The eggs four or five in number. 


264 


HIRUNDINIDvE. 


INSFSSORJES. HIR UNDINIBjE . 

FISSIROSTRES. 


SAND MARTIN. 

Hirundo riparia. 

PLATE LXV. FIG. I. 

We see less of the Sand Martin than of any of the 
swallow tribe. Whilst the other species spend the greater 
part of the time they are with ns round about our dwel¬ 
lings, building their nests under the same roof ourselves 
inhabit, it retires to the more peaceful quiet of the coun¬ 
try, and is seldom seen, unless we follow it to, its favourite 
haunt, the margin of a river. There, if the banks are 
elevated for a few feet above the influence of the water, 
and of a sufficiently porous soil, numbers of round holes 
may be seen, about the size of those perforated by the 
water-vole, which these birds have made with much toil 
and labour, as a place of reception for their nests. Should 
you examine them, you may observe that, unless the soil 
is soft and sandy, many of them remain unfinished, the 
hardness of the substance having, most probably, driven 
the birds to seek a softer soil; and yet, at some of their 
breeding-places on the sea-coast, I have found the stra¬ 
tum so hard as to cause me some trouble sufficiently to 
enlarge the holes, not only to the detriment of my nails 
and fingers, but to the destruction of a stick-knife, with¬ 
out the assistance of which my wish to obtain the eggs 
must have remained ungratified. How, then, can we 
sufficiently admire the perseverance, and wonder at the 


LXV 





V 


\ I 






« 









SAND MARTIN. 


265 


power, which enables these little birds to overcome such 
difficulties ? 

Those holes which are completed, if no meddling hand 
has intruded to widen the orifice, are not sufficiently 
large to admit the arm, and from eight to eighteen inches 
deep. The doorway, which they seem most anxious to 
protect, is the narrowest part of the hole, which becomes 
wider towards the nest. In places where they have been 
yearly subject to disturbance, failing to touch the eggs at 
arm's length, I have only succeeded in doing so by the ad¬ 
dition of a hooked stick, which reached them at the depth 
of from five to six feet. The Martins usually make their 
holes near the top of the bank, being evidently most in 
fear of enemies from below. I once saw a colony in great 
consternation, without being able for some time to dis¬ 
cover the cause of alarm, when I observed a weasel, 
which made its entree from above, passing from one hole 
to another, and no doubt making dire havoc either 
amongst the old birds or their young ones. 

Besides the banks of rivers, which are their favourite 
haunts, there are many parts of the sea-coast to which 
the Sand Martins resort to breed. Their nests may be 
also occasionally met with in the banks of quarries and 
deserted sand-pits. 

The outside of the nest is loose and flat, and of dry 
grass, profusely lined with the feathers of ducks and 
geese, more especially those from the breasts of these 
birds, which, in their natural curve, give the roundness 
of the interior of the nest. Mr. Wolley informs me that 
at Burlington, in Yorkshire, the Sand Martins make 
their nests of sea-weed. The eggs, which are four or 
five, and rarely six in number, are, whilst the yoke is in 
them, beautifully tinged with pink. 

Whilst watching the evolutions of some Norwegian 


266 


HIRUNDINIM. 


soldiers, we were surprised to see that a colony of Sand 
Martins had scooped out their holes in a sandy bank 
which formed the boundary of the parade, and though 
close to the walls of the city of Drontlieim, and not more 
than arm's reach from the ground, were enjoying undis¬ 
turbed and quiet possession of their homes. 


SWIFT. 


267 


INSFSSORES. HIRUNDINIDJE. 

FISSIROSTRES. 


SWIFT, 

BLACK MARTIN, SCREECH, DEVILING. 

Cypselus MURARIUS. 

PLATE LXV. FIG V. 

The Swift usually brings forth its young ones in holes 
of old ruins, towers, and steeples; sometimes under the 
tiles of churches and houses, and in lime-kilns. White 
says, “ In this village (Selbourne) some pairs frequent 
the lowest and meanest cottages;" and further adds, 
“we remember but one instance where they breed out 
of buildings, and that is in the sides of a deep chalk¬ 
pit." To this I may add, that I have seen them breed¬ 
ing in various places in the cliffs of the sea-coast. 

Professor Nilson says that, in Sweden the Swift breeds 
in hollow trees, a statement which is confirmed by Mr. 
Wolley. A correspondent of “Loudon's Magazine" also 
states that, observing a number of these birds at a dis¬ 
tance of thirty miles from any place where it was likely 
that they should breed, upon making inquiry, he disco¬ 
vered that they were occupying for that purpose the holes 
in trees perforated by the woodpecker. 

For the most part, I believe the Swift deposits its 
eggs either upon the bare stone or mortar, or upon the 
remains of a sparrow's nest; sometimes it builds one 
for itself. This is, however, of very little substance and 


268 


HIItUNDINID^E. 


slight materials, being composed of a few straws, lined 
with feathers, and strongly cemented together with some 
glutinous substance. For several of these nests I am 
indebted to Mr. Salmon. The eggs of the Swift vary 
from two to four in number. 


ALPINE SWIFT. 


269 


INSESSORES. HIRUNDINIDJE. 

FISSIROSTRES. 


ALPINE SWIFT. 

Cypselus alpinus. 

PLATE LXV. FIG. VI. 

No wonder that the Alpine Swift should sometimes 
visit our shores, since it is common throughout a great 
part of the southern continent of Europe, and gifted 
with a speed of wing which would set distance at de¬ 
fiance. Its flight is said to be even swifter than that 
of our well-known species. It is met with in some 
parts of France, Spain, Italy, and Switzerland. It 
breeds, like our own species, in high rocks, ruins, and 
in church steeples. 

This Swift makes a nest, similar to the commoner 
species, of pieces of straw firmly cemented together by 
some glutinous matter, and lined with feathers, in which 
it lays from three to five eggs. 

When seated on the promenade under the beautiful 
cathedral at Berne, enjoying the glorious view which it 
commands of the distant Alps, I have had the additional 
pleasure of watching these birds careering round the 
beautiful old steeple in which they breed; I have also 
seen them in numbers, passing in and out from the per¬ 
pendicular rocks which form one side of the deep defile 
through which the road leads you on your way from the 
baths of Loeche to the Canton Yallais. 


270 


CAPRIMULGIDjE. 


I NS ESS ORES. CA PR TM ULGIDAL 

FISSIROSTRES. 


NIGHTJAR, 

NIGHT HAWK, FERN OWL. 

Caprimulgus EUROPEUS. 

PLATE LXVI. 

The Nightjar is most common in those open moor¬ 
land tracts of country which immediately surround a 
more cultivated and woody district. In such situations 
it deposits its eggs, without any nest whatever, amongst 
heath, fern, and grass, or in a slight depression upon the 
bare ground, never far from the neighbourhood of woods 
or a woody district; its eggs may also frequently be 
found in open grassy spaces, and in drives occurring in 
the midst of large woods: they are two in number, and 
are amongst the most beautiful of our British birds' eggs; 
in shape they are peculiar, being almost of a perfect oval. 

The American species of this genus, of which Wilson 
has given such interesting descriptions, all closely resem¬ 
ble ours in their mode of breeding. 


LXVI 













LXYII 


i 

a 





i < i 


I V 










RING DOVE. 


271 


BA SORES. 


COLUMBIDjE. 


RING DOVE, 

WOOD PIGEON, CUSHAT. 
COLUMBA PALUMBUS. 


PLATE LXVII. FIG. I. 

The Wood Pigeon begins to build early in April, and 
is then to be met with breeding in almost every wood and 
plantation throughout the country; and though, in some 
instances, it retains much of that shyness which charac¬ 
terized it during the winter, and does not generally allow 
you to come near it on the nest, it is sometimes much 
more familiar, building its nest in pleasure-grounds in the 
immediate vicinity of the house. At Seaton Burn, near 
Newcastle, these welcome and delightful visitors may be 
seen from the windows of the house, whilst sitting on 
their eggs; and, in one instance, I observed a nest, which 
was placed in a single thorn-bush within a few yards of 
the gardener's cottage, where children were playing round 
it all day long; and, what is still more unusual, a pair 
reared their young ones during the last summer, in ivy 
against the house, close under one of the bed-room 
windows. 

The Ring Dove builds a nest so slight, that it is a mat¬ 
ter of surprise that it is not blown out of the tree, or the 
eggs out of it. It is formed of dry sticks crossing each 
other, and is without any cement or lining whatever; it is 
a level platform, with little or no concavity, and has very 


272 


COLUMBIA®. 


little tlie appearance of a bird's nest; it is so loosely put 
together and so slight, that the eggs may, in many in¬ 
stances, be seen through from below. Mr. J. H. Tuke in¬ 
forms me, that he has frequently found the nest of this 
species upon the deserted nest of a squirrel. 

The Ring Dove seems to prefer the branches of the oak 
and fir-tree, as being more horizontal and better suited 
to the flatness of its nest; it is found, also, in thorns, and 
in ivy growing against trees. It has two or three broods 
in the year, and lays invariably two eggs, of a glossy 
white, and, for the most part, of a perfect oval. I have 
known young ones in the nest as late as the middle of 
September. 

Mr. Hancock has, in several instances, found the nests 
and eggs of this species in Scotland, upon the ground 
amongst the heather at the base of the Scotch fir, and 
sheltered by its overhanging branches, and in the near 
neighbourhood of an extensive forest. 


STOCK DOVE. 


273 


RA SORES. 


C0LUMB1DAE. 


STOCK DOVE. 

COLUMBA (ENAS. 

PLATE LXVII. FIG. II. 

The Stock Dove, though rarely met with in the north 
of England, breeds in some of the southern counties: it is 
not uncommon in Epping Forest, where, under the kind 
guidance of Mr. H. Doubleday, I have taken its eggs 
from the pollard hornbeam-trees, in which it breeds. 

In Norfolk, Mr. Salmon says that the Stock Dove 
occupies the deserted rabbit burrows upon warrens, 
placing its eggs about a yard from the entrance of 
the hole, usualty upon the bare sand, but sometimes 
making use of a small quantity of dry roots, barely 
sufficient to keep the eggs from the ground, and that 
it also lays its eggs under those thick furze-bushes 
which are impervious to the rain: both very curious 
habitats for a bird like this. The Stock Dove breeds 
early in April, and, like the rest of the genus, lays 
its two white eggs, which, Mr. Wolley remarks, are 
more tinted with cream-colour than the other species. 


T 


274 


COLUMBID.E. 


R A SORES. 


COLVMBTDjE. 


ROCK DOVE. 

COLUMBA LIVIA. 


PLATE LXVII. FIG. III. 

In habits, this species differs considerably from the rest 
of the genus: whilst they chiefly frequent woods, roosting 
upon and making their nests in trees, the Rock Dove in¬ 
habits the cliffs upon our sea-coast, in which it breeds, 
laying its eggs in holes and fissures of the rocks. Mr. Low, 
in his “Fauna Orcadensis,” says, that “they are found 
round all the rocks of the mainland and isles, where they 
build in the caves, but retire further in than the hawks, 
gulls, or most other sea-birds, except some of the petrels/' 

In the Shetland Islands they abound, breeding in the 
numerous spacious caverns into which the sea constantly 
rushes; they have every appearance of being tame, and 
are so easily approached within gun-shot, that, until as¬ 
sured of the contrary, we took them for the inmates of 
some neighbouring dovecote. They approach quite close 
to the huts of the fishermen, to feed over the small cul¬ 
tivated patches of corn-land; and, I have little doubt, 
might, if encouraged and fed, be readily domesticated. 

Mr. G. C. Atkinson found several of the eggs on the 
Isle of Harris, at the furthest extremity of caves in 
fissures in the rocks. The eggs are two in number, 
and usually somewhat less of a regular oval than those 
of the two species before described. 


TURTLE DOVE, 


27 >> 


RASORES 


COL TJMBJDxE. 


TURTLE DOYE. 

COLUMBA TURTUR. 


PLATE LXVIL FIG. IV. 

Like the stock clove, this species breeds only towards 
the south of England; being scarcely ever met with in 
the north, and then only in winter. I have seen it in 
the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Surrey, during the 
breeding season. It builds its nest in the same manner 
as the ring dove, in woods and plantations, but frequently 
in a less elevated position, and sometimes in a thorn- 
hedge: it is of sticks placed crosswise, and forming a 
very loosely-constructed platform; upon this it lays its 
two white eggs, which are more pointed than those of the 
other species. 


276 


PHASIANIDiE. 


R A SORES. 


PIIA SI A NIDjE. 


PHEASANT. 

Phasianus colchicus. 

PLATE LXVIIT. 

The Pheasant is too well known to need much de¬ 
scription. It breeds throughout the country in May and 
June, and lays its eggs upon the ground in woods and 
plantations amongst the underwood; under the cut 
branches of trees, and in the long grass; sometimes also 
in hedge-rows, and occasionally in the open fields: they 
are from ten to fourteen in number, and nearly round; 
they are most commonly of the colour of the plate, but 
frequently much lighter. From the near approach of 
the Pheasant to domestication, the eggs are subject to 
the same strange and whimsical forms seen in those of 
our common fowls. I possess some very remarkable 
deformities of this kind, obligingly sent me by the Hon. 
Mrs. Liddle; one in particular, which is cylindrical, about 
two inches and a half long, and an inch and a half in 
diameter. 


ucvm. 


1 






WOOD GROUSE. 


277 


RA SORES. 


TETRA ONID.E. 


WOOD GROUSE, 

COCK OF THE WOODS, CAPERCAILLIE. 

PLATE LXIX. FIG. II. 

This fine bird, which has been for some time extinct in 
our own country, breeds in the mountainous pine-forests 
of the north of Europe, in Norway, Sweden, and Russia. 
In Norway it is, however, in some seasons so rare—and 
the year of our visit was one of scarcity—that it was 
with the greatest difficulty that we could procure speci¬ 
mens of its eggs; and although wandering for many days 
through those parts which were far from human habita¬ 
tion, and where we were told it was abundant, we had, in 
two instances only, the satisfaction of seeing it alive. In 
these remote situations it lays its eggs under the shelter 
of a young spruce-fir-tree, in those parts of the forest 
which are clear of the large timber; they are from eight 
to twelve in number, and are deposited upon a small 
quantity of dry grass towards the end of June. 

Though for many years extinct in Britain, several at¬ 
tempts have recently been made to re-establish the Caper¬ 
caillie in this country, and, I trust, with some success. 
Mr. Hancock has several eggs, laid in Scotland during 
the year 1853. The eggs of this and the following spe¬ 
cies have all the character of those of the turkey. 


278 


TETRAONIIEE. 


RA SORES. 


TETRA 0N1JJJE. 


BLACK GKOUSE. 

Tetrao tetrix. 

I’LATE LXIX. FIG. I. 

In England, the Black Grouse is most abundant in the 
northern counties, and is generally diffused over most 
parts of Scotland. Many experiments have been made to 
introduce it into those districts, further south, where it 
was not naturally indigenous, but for the most part with¬ 
out success, although attempted in situations which ap¬ 
pear in every way favourable, and similar to those in 
which they are naturally in great abundance. 

In habits, this species differs considerably from the 
next. Whilst the red grouse inhabits the most desolate 
and the wildest heaths, the Black Grouse frequents the 
borders of cultivation, breeding either amongst the heath 
or in recently planted ground, and sometimes in the 
hedge-rows. It lays from eight to ten eggs, usually much 
less strongly spotted than the plate, and differing con¬ 
siderably according to the locality in which they are 
found. 


LX1X 














LXX 







RED GROUSE. 


279 


RA SORES. 


1ETRA ONI D At. 


RED GROUSE. 

Tetrao Scoticus. 

PLATE LXX. FIGS. I. AND II 

The eggs of the Red Grouse, for depth and richness of 
colouring, are unrivalled by those of any other British 
bird, and are, in consequence, a beautiful ornament to our 
cabinets. The Red Grouse, which has hitherto been met 
with only in the British Islands, breeds on most of the 
high heathy moors of this country, especially those in the 
north of England and the Highlands of Scotland. It is 
abundant, also, on most of the Western Islands, and is 
met with sparingly in Orkney, but has never been found 
in Shetland, though at so short a distance. It begins to 
breed early in April, and makes its nest, when any, in a 
tuft of heather, gathering together a few pieces of heath 
and some dry grass. The eggs are from eight to twelve 
in number, and present many very beautiful and strongly 
contrasted varieties; eggs similar to both the figures of 
the plate are frequently found in the same nest. The 
third figure of the plate will represent well a variety of 
the eggs of this species. 


280 


TETRAONIDiE. 


RA SORES. 


TETRA ONIDjE 


PTARMIGAN. 

Tetrao lagopus. 

PLATE LXX. FIG. III. 

Although the Ptarmigan breeds in various parts of 
Scotland, the eggs are very difficult to obtain. Its 
breeding-places are those bare, stony spots which cover 
a portion of most of the higher mountain ridges, amongst 
which it finds secure retreat; its similarity to the ground 
in colour is so great, and its heedlessness of danger is 
such, for it will remain closely crouched till you approach 
within the shortest distance of it, that it thus eludes dis¬ 
covery. 

The eggs, which are from eight to twelve in number, 
are deposited either upon the bare ground or upon a small 
portion of dry grass or heath; those that I have seen are 
precisely like some of the varieties of eggs of the red 
grouse. 

The Ptarmigan, as well as several other species of 
grouse, are said to be very abundant in Norway during 
the breeding season; they were all, however, very scarce 
during the summer of our visit to that country: the only 
variegated grouse we met with was the T\ Saliceti , the 
willow grouse; and, of this, two specimens only were all 
that rewarded our many wild rambles on those glorious 
snow-clad mountains, and these were so tame that we 
had difficulty in compelling them to fly. 





LXXl. 












PARTRIDGE. 


281 


RA SORES. 


TETRA ON I DAE. 


PARTRIDGE. 

Perdix cinerea. 

PLATE LXXI. FIG. I. 

The Partridge, though everywhere more or less fre¬ 
quent, is most numerous in the counties of Norfolk and 
Suffolk. It is usually met with amongst the crops of the 
cultivated land; but I have not unfrequently found a 
covey upon those heathy, uncultivated moors which bor¬ 
der on vegetation; they are, in such places, wild and 
wary, and difficult to shoot. 

The Partridge lays its eggs either upon the bare 
ground, or upon a few pieces of dry grass carelessly 
scraped together; they are deposited in open pastures, 
meadows, and corn-fields ; in a tuft of grass, or under 
the shelter of furze or other brushwood ; amongst newly 
planted trees, and at the bottom of a thorn-hedge. 

The eggs are numerous; they are usually ten or twelve, 
but are said, in some instances, to equal eighteen or 
twenty in number; they differ, like those of the phea¬ 
sant, many being considerably lighter than the plate. 
The assiduous perseverance of the Partridge during in¬ 
cubation is well known; numbers of instances might 
be given in illustration; none, perhaps, more striking 
than that mentioned by Montagu, of one which allowed 
itself and eggs to be deposited in a hat, and thus carried 
unresistingly into captivity, where it continued to sit 
them till the young ones were brought out. 


282 


TETRAONIDiE. 


R A SORES. 


TETRA ON I DEE. 


RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE, 

GUERNSEY PARTRIDGE, FRENCH PARTRIDGE. 
Perdix RUFA. 


PLATE LXXI. FIG. II. 


The Red-legged Partridge is, like the pheasant, 
only a native of this country by adoption, and without 
its long claim of naturalization; it is, however, becoming 
so generally dispersed through some of the southern coun¬ 
ties, that I have thought it right to give its egg a place 
in this work. In Oxfordshire, Mr. Daniel says that it is 
abundant, the Marquis of Hertford having introduced it 
by bringing over, from the Continent, many thousand 
eggs, which were reared under hens, and their produce 
turned at large. It is also abundant in the counties of 
Norfolk and Suffolk. Upon the estate of Sir Thomas 
Gooch, Bart., to whose kindness I owe the pleasure, I 
have seen several covies during a day's shooting. They 
are much wilder than the common partridge, and run 
for a considerable distance before they will take wing, 
keeping the dogs at a running point. 

The Red-legged Partridge makes more of a nest than 
the common species, and raises it a little above the level 
of the ground; it is of dry grass mixed with a few fea¬ 
thers of the bird. The usual number of eggs is from ten 
to twelve. Mr. Salmon has several spotless eggs which 


RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE. 


283 


I believe to be varieties of this species; lie tells me that 
he has seen a nest containing eighteen eggs; and Tem- 
minck says that they lay from fifteen to eighteen eggs. 
Mr. Salmon says that, from the wilder nature of this bird, 
it seems to prefer the heathy districts, to those that are 
under cultivation; if this is the case, and it would thrive 
upon the extensive moors of the north of England, it 
would there form a beautiful additional tenant of the soil. 


284 


TETRAONID^E. 


It A SORES. 


TETRA ON1DJE. 


QUAIL. 

COTURNIX VULGARIS. 

PLATE LXXII. 

The Quail is a rare bird in the north of England, a 
pair or two only occurring occasionally during the breed¬ 
ing-season ; they are then, however, not likely to be dis¬ 
turbed, being concealed amongst the corn and long grass, 
and are probably more numerous than is supposed. They 
lay their eggs upon the ground, in meadows and corn¬ 
fields, having first collected together a small quantity of 
dry grass; these vary much in number, being from six to 
fourteen, though most commonly about ten; they differ 
also greatly in colour and markings, as the plate will 
shew, there being many more equally striking varieties. 
The second figure is the egg most characteristic of the 
species. 

The Quail must be very abundant in France; I have 
seen many of them in the fields when passing through the 
country by railway. 


LXXll 

















GREAT BUSTARD. 


285 


FA SORES. 


S TR UTHIONIDjE. 


GREAT BUSTARD. 

Otis tarda. 

PLATE LXXIII. FIG. I. 

This fine bird, which the gun or the spread of cultiva¬ 
tion has either destroyed or driven from our shores, will- 
soon be remembered only as once having existed in our 
land, gladdening with its presence the open wolds and 
downs of our country, and adding an interest to the 
bleak and sterile heath. The Bustard has existed, till 
within a few years, on those extensive sheep-walks, the 
wolds of Yorkshire, from whence I have seen their eggs, 
and in the earlier time of Montagu was to be met with on 
the plains of Salisbury. Mr. Spurgeon, of Lynn, to whom 
I was indebted for an English specimen of the egg of 
this bird, figured in the “British Oology/' gave me the 
following information, during the publication of that work. 
He says, “ I am much afraid that all the male birds are 
extinct in this kingdom, and, therefore a few years will 
end the species altogether. I have seen from fourteen to 
eighteen females in the various large fields in the west of 
Norfolk, called breaks; they are wild, and difficult to ap¬ 
proach.” The Bustard makes no nest, but lays its eggs, 
two in number, upon the bare ground. The egg which 

I have now figured is in the collection of Mr. Salmon, 
© 

and was laid in this country. 


286 


STRUTHIONIDxE. 


The Great Bustard will still occasionally find its way 
here, and would remain with us if allowed to do so. 
Mr. Hancock tells me that he saw one during the pre¬ 
sent spring (1854), which was shot in a turnip field, 
near Brampton, in Cumberland. 

The increasing taste for ornithology, and the mania to 
possess a British-killed specimen of any rare bird, has 
made it hopeless that any such bird, especially if of large 
size, should long escape with life after having unluckily 
landed on our shores. 


LITTLE BUSTARD. 


287 


HA SORES'. 


ST RUTHT ON ID,E. 


LITTLE BUSTARD. 

Otis tetrax. 

PLATE LXXIII. FIG. II. 

Like the closely-allied species, the Little Bustard lays 
its eggs upon the hare ground. They are said to be from 
three to five in number, and have been described as “of a 
clear, shining, grass-green colour, without spot or stain. ' 
Those eggs which I have seen are all, more or less, suf¬ 
fused with colour. Any one who had previously seen the 
eggs of the great bustard, would look for a similar cha¬ 
racter in those of the present species; and he would be 
pleased in observing the resemblance which they bear to 
each other, distinct as they are from those of all other 
birds. 


288 


STRUTHIONIDiE. 


BASQUES. 


STB UTIITONIDsE. 


NORFOLK PLOVER, 

THICK-KNEED-BUSTARD, STONE-CURLEW. 

CEdicnemus CREPITANS. 

PLATE LXXIV. 

The Norfolk Plover, as its name would lead us to 
expect, is abundant in that county, as also in the adjoin¬ 
ing one of Suffolk. It breeds upon those extensive sandy 
flats which chiefly border upon the sea-coast; its nest is 
nothing more than a slight cavity scratched upon the 
surface of the ground; its eggs are invariably two in 
number; those figured in the plate are selected from a 
large and beautiful series, for which, with the information 
given above, I am indebted to Mr. Salmon. 

The figures may be considered as two extremes, between 
which there is a regular gradation of varieties, from the 
closely-spotted surface of the first figure, the markings 
of which have but one shade of colour throughout, to 
the more distant, deep, and many-tinted spots of fig. 2 ; 
these are both of the usual ground-colour. There are, 
however, other varieties, the surface of which is of a dirty 
yellow, with the spots upon it muddy and ill-defined. A 
variety in the collection of Mr. Salmon has the ground¬ 
colour white, slightly marked with lilac and rufous spots, 
like eggs of the Sandwich tern. 


LXX1Y. 









NORFOLK PLOVER. 


289 


Since the preceding page was printed I have been in¬ 
duced to give a third figure to represent a very unusual 
variety, and regret that the scope of the work will not 
allow me to give further illustrations. 

Mr. Newton, who lives in the head-quarters of these 
birds, has most kindly sent me a beautiful series of 
several dozen of their eggs ; some mapped over the en¬ 
tire surface, as if covered with a piece of the finest sea¬ 
weed ; others, which might pass for eggs of a falcon both 
in shape and colour, one especially, which has all the 
spots at the smaller end, a variety common to eggs of the 
sparrow-hawk; many of them, like Mr. Salmon's egg 
mentioned above, much resembling eggs of the Sand¬ 
wich tern. 

Mr. Newton says, that “the Norfolk Plover is remark¬ 
able for its attachment to its breeding-ground, even after 
the hand of man has effected great changes in its cha¬ 
racter ; so much so, that a particular spot, where a pair 
of birds of this species had been accustomed to breed, 
was resorted to by them for that purpose long after it, 
and many acres round it, were planted with trees, and 
had become the centre of a flourishing wood." 


END OF THE FIRST VOLUME. 


London : H. W. Hutchings, Printer, 63, Snow Hill. 
























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